THE STOCKTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS IMPLEMENTED THE 'SENIOR CITIZENS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM' IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE CRIME PREVENTION CONCERNS OF AREA SENIOR CITIZENS. THE FIRST CLASS WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 7, 1978, AND SINCE THEN, OVER 116 SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. EACH SESSION CONSISTS OF 8 WEEKS OF CLASSROOM TRAINING. INFORMATION ON SERVICES AVAILABLE TO SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING IS ALSO PROVIDED. THE PROGRAM DEVELOPED FROM THE PLANNING OF A COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS LOCAL SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICE AGENCIES, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS/CRIME PREVENTION SECTION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO WOULD COORDINATE THE PROGRAM THAT WAS DEVELOPED. INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO HAD DEVELOPED SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO THE ONE ENVISIONED FOR STOCKTON. THE SUBJECTS FINALLY SELECTED FOR THE 8-WEEK PROGRAM INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PERSONAL SAFETY, TOUR OF THE POLICE FACILITY, RESIDENTIAL SECURITY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM, FRAUD AND BUNCO, CONSUMER FRAUD, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL AREA AGENCY ON AGING. THE CONTENT AND PROCEDURE FOR PRESENTING EACH OF THESE SUBJECTS ARE DESCRIBED. FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF PROGRAM PLANNING, ATTENDANCE AT THE TRAINING SESSIONS WAS SOLICITED BY PRESS RELEASES AND PERSONAL INVITATIONS EXTENDED BY THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR TO SENIOR CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE AT VARIOUS EXISTING SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAMS. REGISTRATION FOR THE CLASSES WAS REQUIRED. TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE CLASS SITE WAS PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE PROGRAM IS EASY TO MAINTAIN ONCE CLASSES HAVE BEGUN, AND COST IS LOW DUE TO THE USE OF POLICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WHOSE REGULAR DUTIES REQUIRE SUCH ACTIVITIES. COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE CLASSES HAS CONTINUED. WHILE NO DATA HAVE BEEN GATHERED TO TEST THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS, IT IS ASSUMED THAT ACQUIRING NEW CRIME-PREVENTION INFORMATION WILL REDUCE A PARTICIPANT'S PROBABILITY OF VICTIMIZATION. (RCB)