LIMITING THE MAXIMUM STAY IN A DETENTION CENTER TO 8 DAYS HAS MOVED MIDDLESEX COUNTY FROM SECOND POSITION IN THE STATE TO SIXTH IN TERMS OF JUVENILE CRIME IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. A LOCAL JUDGE ASSESSED THE PROBLEM OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND CONCLUDED THAT EXECESSIVE LENGTH OF STAY WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN JUVENILE MISBEHAVIOR AT THE JUVENILE IN NEED OF SUPERVISION SHELTERS. THERE IS A FOUR-STEP PROCESS APPLIED TO YOUTHS ACCUSED OF NONVIOLENT CRIMES. IN THE FIRST OFFENSE, IF THE CHILD DOES NOT COME INTO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE LAW, THE COMPLAINT IS DISMISSED. ON THE SECOND OFFENSE, THE JUVENILE IS PLACED ON PROBATION FOR REHABILITATION. AFTER THE THIRD OFFENSE, THE YOUTH IS GIVEN A SUSPENDED SENTENCE TO AN INSTITUTION AND PLACED ON PROBATION AFTER THE FOURTH OFFENSE, THE JUVENILE MAY BE SENT TO AN INSTITUTION. JUVENILE INTAKE IS A FUNCTION OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. IF THE CASE IS A MINOR OFFENSE, IT MAY BE REFERRED TO THE TRAINED JUVENILE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. IF THE CHILD REQUIRES SKILLED HANDLING, THE CASE MAY BE HEARD IN A PREJUDICIAL CONFERENCE, AND IF THE CASE IS SERIOUS, IT MAY BE REFERRED TO AN INFORMAL COURT HEARING. ONLY 5 COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY HAVE LESS PENDING ACTIVE JUVENILE MATTERS, WHILE 15 COUNTIES HAVE MORE. JUST 1 JUDGE IS HANDLING 80 PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE JUVENILE CALENDAR IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY. (AJJ)