EARN IT WAS ORIGINATED BY THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE COURT, WHO SECURED THE COOPERATION OF LOCAL BUSINESSES IN PROVIDING WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS AND OBTAINED LEAA AND COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A RESTITUTION PROGRAM. EARN IT DIFFERS FROM OTHER RESTITUTION PROGRAMS IN THAT IT MATCHES OFFENDERS WITH JOBS AND KEEPS A CLOSE WATCH ON OFFENDERS' PERFORMANCES. IF OFFENDERS FAIL TO MAKE GOOD ON THE JOB, THEY ARE BROUGHT BACK INTO COURT AND GIVEN A STIFFER SENTENCE. IN THE PROGRAM'S FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATION, 1,069 OFFENDERS (480 JUVENILES AND 589 YOUNG ADULTS) PARTICIPATED, REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT OF ALL DEFENDANTS APPEARING BEFORE THE COURT. ONLY FIVE PERCENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM. BEFORE EARN IT WAS ESTABLISHED, THE COURT COLLECTED 40 PERCENT OF ALL FINES AND RESTITUTIONS DUE. IN EARN IT'S FIRST YEAR, THE COURT COLLECTED $81,713--90 PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT DUE. MOST EARN IT PARTICIPANTS ARE FIRST OR SECOND OFFENDERS ACCUSED OF PROPERTY CRIMES. PARTICIPATION IS VOLUNTARY, AND OFFENDERS MAY WITHDRAW FROM THE PROGRAM AT ANY TIME. IN MOST CASES, PROSECUTION IS DEFERRED WHILE THE OFFENDER WORKS IN THE RESTITUTION PROGRAM, AND CHARGES ARE DROPPED WHEN RESTITUTION IS COMPLETED. EARN IT IS USED AS A FORM OF PROBATION, A SUPPLEMENT TO PROBATION, AND AN ALTERNATIVE TO PROBATION. THE PROGRAM IS OPERATED BY A STAFF OF NINE, INCLUDING COUNSELORS AND A JOB DEVELOPER WHO ATTEMPTS TO MATCH THE INTERESTS AND SKILLS OF EACH OFFENDER WITH THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS. EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN EARN IT VIEW THE PROGRAM FAVORABLY. APPROXIMATELY 27 PERCENT OF EARN IT PARTICIPANTS HAVE KEPT THEIR JOBS AFTER PAYING BACK THEIR VICTIMS.