Several European countries have recently developed new forms of social crime prevention, including efforts to reduce juvenile delinquency. All of the experiments stress the local level as the most suitable geographical and social area in which to apply prevention policies; partnership among administrative, social welfare, economic and cultural organizations; and community participation. Scotland's Children's Hearings System has been in operation since 1971 to deal with children in trouble. The system, based on "needs" rather than "deeds," has helped young persons in social or legal difficulties. However, there is continuing tension between justice and welfare, particularly in cases where the interests of parents may be in conflict with the child. The lack of baseline information against which to measure the performance of the Hearings System leaves it vulnerable to political influence and public pressure. The current desire to remove young offenders from child care decision making to a justice model risks stepping back into failed past experiments rather than addressing the social and family conditions which may contribute to offending behavior. References