UNLIKE JUVENILES FACING DELINQUENCY CHARGES, THE MAJORITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE BROUGHT INTO COURT ON STATUS OFFENSE CHARGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT THERE BY THEIR OWN PARENTS. IN NEW YORK CITY, OVER 80 PERCENT OF PINS PETITIONS ARE BROUGHT BY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS. THE COURT MAY BE VIEWED AS A SOURCE OF POWER BY POOR PARENTS WHO CANNOT EXERCISE ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL POWER OVER THEIR CHILDREN. THE COURT PROCEEDING MAY BE AN ATTEMPT TO GET RID OF A CHILD, WHILE SOMETIMES THE PARENTS GENUINELY SEEK HELP THEY CANNOT PROVIDE. THE HIGH REPEATED USE OF PINS INTAKE BY FAMILIES LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE COURT IS BEING USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF PARENTAL POWER. IN CONTRAST, 79 PERCENT OF DELINQUENCY OFFENDERS HAVE ONLY ONE COURT CONTACT. SOCIAL WORKERS QUESTION THE THEORY THAT THE FAMILY IS THE BEST PLACE FOR THE ADOLESCENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF THE ADOLESCENT WHO IS TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM DEEP-SEATED FAMILY PROBLEMS THROUGH NONDELINQUENT RUNNING AWAY OR STAYING OVERNIGHT WITH FRIENDS. IN SOME CASES, THE MOST HEALTHY THING AN ADOLESCENT CAN DO IS TO LEAVE PARENTS WHOSE LIVES AND RELATIONSHIPS ARE CONFUSED: SUCH YOUTHS NEED INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO OBTAIN SOME SORT OF ACCEPTABLE 'DIVORCE' FROM PARENTS. AT PRESENT THE COURTS FAVOR PARENTS AND OFFER FEW REMEDIES TO THE CHILD.