THE BASIC GOALS OF PRETRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE TO HELP BREAK BEGINNING CYCLES OF CRIME AND PATTERNS OF FAILURE BY SWIFT INTERVENTION AT CRISES POINTS, SAVE COURT ROOM EXPENSE FOR PROCESSING CLIENTS, SENSITIZE EMPLOYERS TO OFFENDERS NEEDS, AND ALTER RESTRICTIVE HIRING PRACTICES. THE PRETRIAL DIVERSION CONCEPT BEGAN IN 1968 IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON, D.C., ALTHOUGH THE ROOTS OF THE CONCEPT ARE IN THE DISTRICT COURTS, COURTS WHOSE PERSONNEL KNOW OFFENDERS' FAMILIES, COMMUNITY PROBLEMS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. SCREENING, ADVOCACY (COUNSELING), AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT ARE THREE BASIC UNITS OF PRETRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAMS. A SCREENER OPERATES AT EACH COURT INTERVIEWING DEFENDANTS, ADVOCATES COUNSEL DEFENDANTS ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS AND IN GROUP SITUATIONS, AND CAREER DEVELOPERS HELP DEFENDANTS LOCATE EMPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES. CLIENTS ARE USUALLY BETWEEN 17 AND 18 YEARS OF AGE WITH LOW EDUCATIONAL LEVELS AND TROUBLED FAMILY BACKGROUNDS. THE BOSTON COURT RESOURCE PROJECT, BEGUN IN 1971, HAS SERVED 1,000 CLIENTS IN ITS 90-DAY PROGRAMS. ABOUT 67 PERCENT OF THESE CLIENTS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND HAD THEIR CHARGES DISMISSED; ABOUT 8 TO 10 PERCENT OF THESE SUCCESSFUL CLIENTS COMMITTED LATER OFFENSES. THE BOSTON PROJECT CAN CLAIM THESE SUCCESSES: MANY INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS HAVE ENTERED PRODUCTIVE JOBS OR TRAINING PROGRAMS; TRAINING, COUNSELING, AND SERVICE MODELS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED; AND PROFESSIONAL AND PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF HAVE ENJOYED HIGHLY CONSTRUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE WORK IN THE SERVICE-DELIVERY SIDE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.