INITIATED IN 1976 TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF JUVENILE CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, A GRANT PROJECT ESTABLISHING A FULL TIME YOUTH SERVICES OFFICER (YSO) TO SERVE THE YOUTHS OF HOOKSETT, ALLENSTOWN, AND PEMBROKE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING SUCCESS. GRANT FUNDS TOTAL $6,359. THE YSO DEALS WITH CASES OF DELINQUENCY, NEGLECT, OR ABUSE, AND PERSONS IN NEED OF SUPERVISION IN A TRI-TOWN AREA INCLUDING FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THREE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THREE HIGH SCHOOLS. IN 1978 THE YSO CONTACTED 89 YOUTHS AND RECEIVED REFERRALS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, PROBATION AND PAROLE, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WELFARE, AND OTHER CHILD AND YOUTH-SERVING AGENCIES. THE YSO SOUGHT ADVICE IN INDIVIDUAL CASES FROM MEMBERS OF A DIVERSION COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF TWO POLICE CHIEFS, A POLICE DETECTIVE, TWO GUIDANCE PERSONNEL, AND A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. OF THE 89 YOUTHS SERVED, 50 ENTERED THE COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM, 27 WENT TO COURT, AND 12 MERELY REQUIRED COUNSELING. MANY OF THE COURT CASES WERE REFERRED BACK TO THE YSO. DIVERSION WAS EFFECTED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS: FOSTER PLACEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY, PRIVATE PSYCHOLOGIST, RESTITUTION, HOME PLACEMENT, AND AGENCY PERSONNEL. THE YSO ESTABLISHED FIVE CRISIS HOMES, PARTICIPATED IN SIX COMMUNITY SEMINARS, PARTICIPATED IN A CHURCH PROGRAM, AND CONTINUOUSLY CONTACTED AREA SCHOOLS. THE RECIDIVISM RATES OF DIVERTED AND COURT-REFERRED YOUTH WERE LOWER THAN EXPECTED AND WERE ESTIMATED AT 10 PERCENT AND 11 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY. CONTINUATION OF PROJECT FUNDING ON A 75/25 BASIS, AS CONSISTENT WITH COMMISSION POLICY IS RECOMMENDED. NO ADMINISTRATIVE OR PROGRAMMATIC DIFFICULTIES WERE IDENTIFIED. (FCW)