In deciding whether and when to intervene, society measures the problems created by intrusion against the effects of nonintervention. In the case of status offenses and delinquency, there are levels of intervention ranging from family management of the problem, through diversion and informal processing, to more formal and intrusive interventions. Because the effectiveness of an intervention on a child's life often cannot be determined until long after the decision to intrude is made, society may rely upon measures of anticipated harm as well as actual harm. In protecting juveniles from their own potentially harmful behavior, the juvenile justice system is fulfilling its duty. The challenge lies in articulating the risk of harm, determining whether their are less intrusive ways to protect, and measuring the effects of intervention against nonintervention.