In Scotland, cases are referred to a juvenile panel of lay persons by a reporter. Three-person panels hear and determine if a juvenile has offended or is in need of care and protection. Cases referred for hearings may include persons in need of supervision, child dependency and neglect, inhalant use, and juvenile delinquency. Hearings normally are attended by the child, the parents, a social worker, and the regional reporter. Both child and parents may be accompanied by a representative. During the hearing, discussion centers on the reasons for referral and how any problems may be resolved. After the hearing, the case may be dismissed or a community or residential supervision order may be recommended. Supervision orders are ended on the basis of periodic case reviews or when the child is 18 years old. In cases where the grounds of referral or disposition are disputed, referral is made to the sheriff for resolution. Visitors to lay panel hearings discuss the positive and negative aspects of the procedure with respect to particular cases they observed. Informality, the panel's ability to probe the background of the problem, the flexibility permitted in dispositions, and the collaborative interaction among agency representatives and the community are noted. 1 figure.