The juvenile justice system is based in the concept that most youth mature out of crime, and that, while still being responsible for their actions, their responsibility as minors under the law is mitigated by age. Accordingly, more lenient penalties apply for juvenile offenders. Currently, police prosecutors compare the juvenile scale of penalties with those applicable in the adult court and find them to be inadequate. Hence, the children's court becomes a fertile ground for complaints and the perpetuation of negative and racist stereotypes. A special juvenile prosecuting unit, with prosecutors trained in juvenile and Aboriginal affairs, as well as the philosophy and practice of the juvenile justice system, might be a countervailing force to the present law-and-order focus of the police in the children's court. The pretrial conference, as a court-based procedure, is used in the second half of a juvenile's journey through the system. Having been dealt with by police, been found unsuitable for pre-court diversion, and made at least one appearance in court on the matter at hand, only arbitration and sentencing remain. The over-representation of Aboriginal youth in the juvenile justice system increases as their penetration into the system deepens. Because of this, the pretrial conference could further entrench the over- representation of Aboriginal youth; however, in practice, its lack of appeal to Aboriginal youth is offset by the flexibility that creates second chances for Aboriginal youth. A change in police attitudes, structures, and practices could further reduce the conflict between police and youth, particularly Aboriginal youth, and create an environment that encourages equity. 20 references