DETAILS ON HOW TO PREVENT PURSE-SNATCHING ARE FOLLOWED BY SUGGESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN AWAY FROM HOME AND WHILE AT HOME, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ALONE. TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID BECOMING THE VICTIM OF A MUGGING OR RAPE AND PROCEDURES TO USE UPON DISCOVERING AN INTRUDER IN THE HOME ARE PROVIDED. UMBRELLAS, ROLLED NEWSPAPERS, OR A SET OF KEYS ARE RECOMMENDED OVER CARRYING A GUN OR USING ONE TO REPEL AN INTRUDER. THE PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING PERPETRATORS OF CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS IN NEW YORK ARE EXAMINED AND OFFENSE CLASSIFICATION (MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY), STATION HOUSE OR CENTRAL BOOKING, COURT CUSTODY, ARRAIGNMENT, PRELIMINARY HEARING, AND INDICTMENT ARE MENTIONED. A CRIMINAL COURT PROCESSING CHART AND A DIAGRAM OF A TYPICAL COURTROOM LAYOUT ACCOMPANY THE DISCUSSION. THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE FAMILY COURT IS REVIEWED. THE ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS, AND OPERATING DISTRICTS AND HOURS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE VARIOUS BOROUGHS IN THE CITY. THE THREE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF CRIME ALERT COMMITTEES, SMALL GROUPS OF SENIOR CITIZENS WORKING CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN THE AREAS OF CRIME PREVENTION AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE, ARE DISCUSSED. THEY ARE: (1) TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION BEING DISPENSED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND TO ASSIST OTHER SENIOR CITIZENS IN OBTAINING SUCH INFORMATION; (2) TO HELP THE MEMBERS OF SENIOR CITIZENS CENTERS AND OTHER SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS PUT CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES INTO ACTION; AND (3) TO ASSIST OTHERS IN ACQUIRING THE SERVICES OFFERED TO CRIME VICTIMS BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GROUPS. SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR OLDER VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING SENIOR CITIZEN REFERRAL SERVICES, CRIME VICTIM'S COMPENSATION, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MEDIATION. THE ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)