THE BASIC THESIS OF THIS ARTICLE IS THAT OFFICIAL LEGAL ACTION TAKEN BY THE STATE IN STATUS OFFENSE SITUATIONS TENDS TO FURTHER JUVENILE CRIME RATHER THAN DIMINISH IT. IT IS ALSO ARGUED THAT SERIOUS INFRINGEMENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF JUVENILES RESULTS FROM SUCH STATE INTERVENTION. SINCE MANY STATUS OFFENSES ARE THE RESULT OF DYSFUNCTIONAL SOCIAL SITUATIONS, THE AUTHOR MAINTAINS THAT SOCIAL SOLUTIONS SHOULD BE FOUND. THE SANCTIONS OF THE LAW SHOULD BE INVOKED ONLY IN SERIOUS CRIMINAL MATTERS, HE CONTENDS.