BY SOCIAL ROLE, THE AUTHOR MEANS THE SUM TOTAL OF POLICE EFFORTS AIMED AT PREVENTING CERTAIN PEOPLE FROM FALLING INTO OR PERSISTING IN CRIMINAL WAYS AND AT SAVING OTHERS FROM VICTIMIZATION BY CRIMINALS AND DELINQUENTS. THIS REPORT FEATURES A DETAILED DELINEATION OF THE GOALS AND TARGET GROUPS BEST SERVED BY THE SOCIAL NATURE OF PREVENTIVE ACTION BY THE POLICE, STRESSES THE NEED FOR ORGANIZING PREDELINQUENCY CRIME PREVENTION, AND DISCUSSES THE NECESSITY OF INTEGRATING A POLICE-SPONSORED PREVENTION SYSTEM INTO THE GENERAL PLANNING OF CRIMINAL POLICY. THE FRAMEWORK AND LIMITATIONS OF SUCH A SOCIAL ROLE ARE DISCUSSED. GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE AREAS AND METHODS OF POLICE EFFORTS AT CRIME PREVENTION ARE PRESENTED, AND SUGGESTIONS RELATED TO PREVENTING SPECIFIC ADULT AND JUVENILE CRIMES AND SEEKING COMMUNITY CONTACT AND COOPERATION ARE OUTLINED. A PLAN IS PRESENTED FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF A SPECIAL POLICE TASK FORCE CAPABLE OF METHODICAL PREVENTION AND SOCIAL ACTION MEASURES; IT FEATURES A MODERATELY CENTRALIZED DIRECTORATE SUPPORTED BY A RESEARCH BODY, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ADVISORY BOARD, AN EXECUTIVE STAFF TRAINED IN PREVENTION WORK, AND SPECIAL PRECINCT BODIES FOR LOCAL ACTION. DETAILS ARE OFFERED REGARDING THE FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH OF THESE SUPPORT BODIES, AND SPECIAL CRITERIA TO BE USED WHEN EMPLOYING SUCH AN ORGANIZATION IN THE PREVENTION OF DELINQUENCY ARE SUGGESTED. (KBL)