JUVENILE CORRECTION EFFORTS ARE USUALLY UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERRATED PROGRAMS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP JUVENILES WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED THE OTHER AVAILABLE SOCIAL MECHANISMS FROM INTERFERRING THE REST OF SOCIETY. THE SITUATION IS FURTHER AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THE POOR AND MINORITY GROUPS ARE REPRESENTED IN PUBLIC CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBERS. YOUTHS ARE HANDLED IN A RIGID AND MECHANISTIC FASHION EMPHASIZING CONFORMITY AND ORDER, OR THEY ARE ALLOWED TOO MUCH FREEDOM BY AN UNCARING OR NONPUNITIVE STAFF WHO ATTEMPT TO ADAPT THE MEDICAL MODELS UTILIZED BY MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS. THERE IS A NATIONAL NEED FOR A UNIFORM, ASSERTIVE PUBLIC POLICY POSITION ON YOUNG PEOPLE. EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BODIES IN STATE GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE A DETERMINED AND SUSTAINED EFFORT TO UNDERSCORE THEIR INTEREST IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONS. CIVIC GROUPS MUST ALSO BE URGED TO FOCUS ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROBLEMS, INCLUDING INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAMS SUCH AS WORK AND STUDY RELEASE, GROUP HOMES, SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS MUST FACE UP TO THE PROBLEM OF DETERMINING WHICH ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES CAN BE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY CHANGED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE EXISTING FAILURES. THE PRIVATE SECTOR MUST EVIDENCE A WILLINGNESS TO HANDLE THOSE YOUTHS WHO ARE NOW INVOLVED IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS. PRIVATE AND PUBLIC AGENCIES MUST BE COORDINATED IN THE AREAS OF PLANNING, ORIENTATION, AND INFORMATION SHARING. THE QUALITY OF SERVICES OFFERED TO YOUTH MUST BE MEASURED THROUGH JOINT EFFORTS OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS AND LAWYERS IN AN EFFORT TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOUTH ARE BEING HELPED AND TREATED OR MERELY INCARCERATED. DECENTRALIZED UNITS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED SO THAT TROUBLED YOUTH CAN BE OBSERVED IN LIGHT OF THE PRESSURES WITH WHICH THEY MUST LEARN TO COPE. (KBL)