THE RESEARCH DESIGN IS DIRECTED TOWARDS: DEVELOPING MACROCAUSAL THEORIES OF GOAL-ORIENTED BEHAVIOR; IDENTIFYING SUBOPTIMAL RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS AND INEFFICIENT RULES FOR SUBSYSTEMS; ANALYZING TRADE-OFFS AMONG GOALS IN ORDER TO RANK PRIORITIES; AND PRESENTING THE RESULTS TO POLICYMAKERS IN AN EASILY UNDERSTOOD FORMAT, A 'POLICY IMPACT MATRIX.' A THESIS OF RELATIVE OPPORTUNITY WHICH STATES THAT AS OPPORTUNITIES AND REWARDS FOR PARTICIPATING IN LEGITIMATE ACTIVITIES INCREASE AND AS RELATIVE DEPRIVATION DECREASES, CRIME AND DELINQUENCY DECLINE, IS DEVELOPED. THIS THESIS IS TESTED WITH A STOCK-FLOW SIMULATION MODEL OF THE CALIFORNIA JUVENILE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SEVERAL POLICY OPTIONS ARE EVALUATED FOR THEIR EFFECT ON THE SYSTEM'S PERFORMANCE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PROACTIVE POLICIES DESIGNED TO PREVENT CRIME ARE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE, AND FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE POTENTIAL VICTIM AND OFFENDER, MOST JUST. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...EB