THE BASIC PREMISE OF THE AUTHOR IS THAT WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY THEORETICAL BREAKTHROUGHS, STUDIES, AND ACTION PROGRAMS, KNOWLEDGE RELATING TO DELINQUENCY PREVENTION METHODS IS SURPRISINGLY LIMITED. THE DISCUSSION FOCUSES BRIEFLY ON THE NATURE OF PREVENTION AND THE WAYS IN WHICH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES COME TO INFLUENCE DEFINITIONS OF THE PROBLEM AND LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS. A REVIEW OF NUMEROUS DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS IS THEN PRESENTED IN AN EFFORT TO HIGHLIGHT THE VARIETY OF PROGRAM GOALS, THE USE OF RESEARCH METHODS, AND THE LIMITED FINDINGS. FINALLY, SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES REGARDING THE WAYS IN WHICH PROGRAMS SELECTIVELY DEFINE, LABEL, AND TREAT INDIVIDUALS IN THE NAME OF PREVENTION ARE EXPLORED TO PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE IN FURTHER ASSESSING HOW SOCIAL SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE MAY BE USEFUL IN LEGISLATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)