THE DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY OF THE POLICE, PROSECUTORS, JUVENILE COURT JUDGES, AND EXAMINING MAGISTRATES IS DESCRIBED. IT IS NOTED THAT FRENCH JUVENILE COURT JUDGES HAVE MUCH GREATER DISCRETIONARY POWERS THAN AMERICAN JUDGES. HOWEVER, JUDICIAL DISCRETION IS TEMPERED SOMEWHAT BY THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE FRENCH JUVENILE COURT, WHICH IS STRONGLY TREATMENT-ORIENTED. THE AUTHORS CONTRASTS THIS TO THE CURRENT TREND IN THE AMERICAN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS A MOVE TO THE PUNISHMENT MODEL. FINALLY, THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT ONE OF THE MOST APPEALING FEATURES OF THE FRENCH SYSTEM IS THE WAY IT FOCUSES RESPONSIBILITY ON ONE PERSON, THE JUVENILE JUDGE. FRENCH JUDGES, UNLIKE THEIR AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS, SUPERVISE EACH JUVENILE'S CASE FROM INITIATION UNTIL THE JUVENILE PASSES OUT OF THE SYSTEM ALTOGETHER....DMC