IN DISCUSSING THE PROCEDURE BY WHICH TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES TO STREET CRIME (TASC) WAS ESTABLISHED IN AUSTIN, TEX., IT IS NOTED THAT THE MAYOR WAS CONTACTED BY THE FEDERAL AGENCY SPONSORING THE PROGRAM NATIONWIDE. THE MAYOR THEN WORKED THROUGH THE HIERARCHY OF THE LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM FROM WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY WOULD NOT SUPPORT COMPLETE DIVERSION OF HARD DRUG OFFENDERS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PROCEDURE USED IS PRETRIAL INTERVENTION WHICH IDENTIFIES A DRUG PROBLEM AND REFERS THE DEFENDANT FOR TREATMENT ASSISTANCE WHILE PROSECUTION PROCEEDS. IF THE PERSON IS FOUND GUILTY, CONTINUED TREATMENT IS GENERALLY OFFERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE. THE AUSTIN TASC PROGRAM HAS ITS OWN URINALYSIS LABORATORY IN ORDER TO DETERMINE DRUG USE OF CLIENTS. THIS IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL AS A MEANS OF PROVIDING OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFENDERS IN THE PROGRAM. THE TASC PROGRAM ALSO COOPERATES WITH STATE PAROLE OFFICERS IN REFERRING PAROLEES TO DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND MONITORING THEIR DRUG USE. EVALUATION HAS SHOWN THAT THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR KNOWN HEROIN AND HARD DRUG PROBATIONERS HAD DROPPED FROM 90 PERCENT TO 21 PERCENT SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TASC PROGRAM. (RCB)