THE SPEAKER NOTES THAT TWO MAIN CURRENTS OF THOUGHT EXIST CONCERNING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY: THE FIRST ARGUES THAT DELINQUENTS ARE 'CRIMINALS' DESERVING PUNISHMENT, WHILE THE SECOND CONTENDS THAT DELINQUENCY IS A FORM OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY WHICH REQUIRES TREATMENT. SINCE NEITHER OF THESE APPROACHES HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DEALING WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, THE SPEAKER MAINTAINS THAT A THIRD APPROACH MAY BE IN ORDER - ONE WHICH VIEWS DELINQUENTS AS MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED. HE CITES DATA PRODUCED BY A PROGRAM AT THE RHODE ISLAND TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS WHICH SHOWED THAT SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE YOUTHS ENTERING THE TRAINING SCHOOL HAD MEASURABLE DISABILITIES SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT PROFESSIONAL ATTENTION. THESE DISABILITIES CAN LEAD TO EARLY DIFFICULTIES IN SCHOOL, INITIATING A PATTERN OF FAILURE AND POOR SELF IMAGE WHICH OFTEN ENDS IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. AS THE CHILD IS BLAMED FOR HIS 'UNCOOPERATIVE' ATTITUDE, THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM - THE CHILD'S DISABILITY - REMAINS UNNOTICED AND UNTREATED. THE SPEAKER CONTENDS THAT EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT OF THESE CASES COULD LEAD TO CONSIDERABLE REDUCTIONS IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. FINALLY, THE SPEAKER CALLS FOR TEACHER TRAINING IN DISABILITY DETECTION MANDATORY DETECTION DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING OF PRE-SCHOOL AND FIRST GRADE STUDENTS, AND DISABILITY SCREENING PROGRAMS IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.