POTENTIAL DEFENSES AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES THAT ARE ARGUABLY AVAILABLE, BUT ONLY SPORADICALLY ASSERTED IN PINS ACTIONS ARE ALSO ASSESSED. THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE PINS JURISDICTION CAN BE MITIGATED IF, AT ADJUDICATORY HEARINGS, THERE IS VIGOROUS ASSERTION OF DEFENSES SUCH AS CONTRIBUTORY NEGLECT BY PARENTS AND FAILURE TO EXHAUST NON-JUDICIAL REMEDIES, AS WELL AS DEFENSES BASED ON STRICT ADHERENCE TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS THAT SEEK EXCLUSION OF CONDUCT WHICH IS DE MINIMIS, CONDONED, OR ISOLATED.