SOCIOLOGISTS CITE MANY CAUSES FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, RANGING FROM A LOW SELF-IMAGE AND PARENTAL NEGLECT TO DEPRIVATION AND POVERTY. THERE IS LITTLE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO PROVE THESE THEORIES; MANY INTERVENTIONS MADE ON THE PREMISE THAT THESE ARE THE CAUSES OF DELINQUENCY HAVE HAD LITTLE SUCCESS. THE AUTHOR CLAIMS THAT THERE IS A NEED TO LOOK FOR NEW CONCEPTS AND REFORMULATE AND RECONCEPTUALIZE THE OLD ONES. APPLIED RESEARCH IS NOT WORKING IN THIS AREA, SO THERE IS A NEED FOR PURE RESEARCH. IN ORDER TO BEGIN NEW STUDIES, ANALOGS TO YOUTH AND YOUTH PROBLEMS MUST BE FOUND, AND A GROUP CONSIDERED EQUIVALENT TO THE DELINQUENT MUST BE IDENTIFIED. THE ELDERLY ARE COMPARED TO YOUTH SINCE NEITHER GROUP IS GRANTED A PRODUCTIVE ROLE, TASK, OR MEANINGFUL FUNCTION BY SOCIETY. A COMPARISON OF THE WAY THE TWO GROUPS ARE TREATED SHOWS THAT THE ELDERLY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MANY INSTITUTIONS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER CARED FOR BY THEIR FAMILIES. FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. PROBLEMS BEGIN WHEN THE CHILD CAN NO LONGER CONFORM OR ADAPT TO THE SCHOOLS. DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR MUST BE REDEFINED. THE DEFINITION OF DELINQUENCY IN COMMON USE IS BASED ON THE VALUES AND MORALS OF AN AGRARIAN SOCIETY. HOWEVER, THAT SOCIETY HAS CHANGED AND BECOME INDUSTRIALIZED. TREATMENT OF JUVENILES BASED ON ALTERATION OF BEHAVIOR MAY HAVE TO CHANGE AS WELL. (BAC)