LEAA AUTHORIZES TWO BASIC TYPES OF AID: FORMULA GRANTS TO THE STATES BASED ON EACH STATE'S POPULATION UNDER THE AGE OF 18, AND DISCRETIONARY AID TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT AGENCIES. UNDER THE FORMULA GRANT PROGRAM, PARTICIPATING STATES MUST PROVE WITHIN 2 YEARS THAT STATUS OFFENDERS, THOSE CHARGED WITH OFFENSES THAT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED CRIMES IF COMMITTED BY ADULTS, ARE NOT BEING HELD IN JUVENILE DETENTION OR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. FORMULA GRANTS ARE BEING USED FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN YOUTH SERVICES RECEIVED $1.4 MILLION TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION AND INCARCERATION. IN 1977, 800 STATUS OFFENDERS WERE DETAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OUT OF 2,800 WHO WERE INCARCERATED IN THE TOTAL POPULATION. AN AVERAGE OF 30 TO 40 PERCENT OF JUVENILE COURT REFERRALS WERE FOR STATUS OFFENSES. THE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYED THREE DISTINCT MODELS IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZE STATUS OFFENDERS: (1) THE MINIMUM INTERVENTION MODEL (COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES SUPPLYING FAMILY CRISIS COUNSELING); (2) THE REPLICATED MINIMUM INTERVENTION MODEL (COUNSELING ADMINISTERED BY PROBATION OFFICERS IN UP TO FIVE SESSIONS) AND (3) THE MAXIMUM INTERVENTION MODEL (EXTENSIVE COUNSELING FEATURING BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION AND TREATMENT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES). THE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE METRO YOUTH DIVERSION DIVISION PROJECT CHANNELLED 952 CHILDREN INTO THREE GROUPS: (1) THE EXPERIMENTAL SERVICE GROUP PROVIDING TREATMENT CENTERS FOR FAMILY TRAINING AND RECREATION COUNSELING; (2) THE DIVERSION WITHOUT SERVICES GROUP IN WHICH CHILDREN RECEIVE A ONE-TIME INTERVIEW WITHOUT PERSONAL INTERACTION; AND (3) THE PENETRATION GROUP SUBMITTED TO COURT ADJUDICATION AND TRACKED BUT NOT SEEN. USING RECIDIVISM AS AN INDICATOR, INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT (INTERVIEWS WITH FAMILY AND CHILD) SEEMS TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. LEAA AWARDED $431,413 TO TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE'S HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. TWELVE HUNDRED DISADVANTAGED-AREA YOUTH RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES: ACADEMIC AND REMEDIAL EDUCATION, CULTURAL EDUCATION, AND FAMILY AND YOUTH COUNSELING. POLICE DISCRETION IN DEALING WITH JUVENILES, AND POLICE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS AROUND THE U.S. ARE DISCUSSED. LEAA EXPERIENCES INDICATE THAT CAREFUL IMPLEMENTATION, ADMINISTRATION, AND EVALUATION MUST ACCOMPANY FINANCIAL SUPPORTS IF EFFORTS SUCH AS THOSE DESCRIBED ARE TO SUCCEED. A GRAPH SHOWS THE AGE DISTRIBUTION FOR PERSONS ARRESTED IN 1976. (KJM)