THE PHILOSOPHY AND RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY WILL LARGELY DETERMINE WHICH APPROACH TO POLICE-SCHOOL LIAISON IS SELECTED. THE TRADITIONAL, AND PROBABLY MOST DETRIMENTAL, POLICE-SCHOOL RELATIONS APPROACH HAS BEEN THE USE OF THE OFFICER AS A SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD. THE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS APPROACH EMPHASIZES THE POSITIVE PEACEKEEPING ROLE OF THE POLICE AND MANY INVOLVE INFORMAL AND NONTHREATENING CONTACT AND DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE OFFICER AND THE PUPIL. A DIVERSION-TYPE PROGRAM WILL REQUIRE THE AVAILABILITY OF COMMUNITY REFERRAL AND SERVICE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO JUVENILE COURT REFERRAL. FINALLY, A PREVENTION APPROACH SEEKS TO REACH ALL CHILDREN THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM WHICH INVOLVES POLICE SPONSORED CHARACTER-BUILDING AND SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS ATHLETICS, DROP-IN RAP CENTERS, AND REFERRAL AND TREATMENT OF TROUBLED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, POLICE-SCHOOL OR POLICE-COURT-SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAMS EMPHASIZING DIVERSION AND/OR PREVENTION ARE THE MOST PRACTICAL. IN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING SUCH PROGRAMS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PLANNERS AND LIAISON PERSONNEL TO HAVE A CLEAR CONCEPT OF THE TYPE OF PROGRAMMING APPROACH TO BE USED, AND FOR THE SCHOOL AND STUDENTS TO BE EQUALLY, CLEAR ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND ITS GOALS. THE PROGRAM SHOULD FIT COMMUNITY NEEDS AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. FURTHER, THE PROGRAM SHOULD NOT BE OVERSTATED OR OVERSOLD; PERSONEL RESOURCES SHOULD NOT BE OVEREXTENDED AND PROMISES WHICH CAN NOT BE FULFILLED SHOULD NOT BE MADE. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF A DIVERSIONARY AND/OR PREVENTION PROGRAM SHOULD REQUIRE THAT: (1) STUDENTS' CIVIL AND DUE PROCESS RIGHTS NOT BE ADVERTENTLY/INADVERTENTLY VIOLATED; (2) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISPOSITION BROUGHT TO POLICE OR COURT BE VOLUNTARY AND NONBINDING FOR THE YOUTH AND HIS FAMILY; (3) RECOMMENDED DISPOSITIONS BE ACCEPTABLE FROM A SCHOOL, POLICE, AND COURT POINT OF VIEW; (4) COMMUNITY POLICY DECISIONS INCLUDE COMMUNITY INPUT; AND (5) THERE BE CLOSE INTERINSTITUTIONAL/INTERAGENCY COOPERATION, COORDINATION, AND SUPPORT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PROGRAMS WHICH PREVENT A YOUNG OFFENDER OR POTENTIAL OFFENDER FROM ENTERING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL BENEFIT ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. (JAP)