THE JOINT INSTITUTE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION COMMISSION ON JUVENILE JUSTICE STANDARDS PRODUCED A 23-VOLUME SET OF STANDARDS AND COMMENTARY DEALING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE ISSUES. THE COMMISSION'S APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE STANDARDS IS REVIEWED, AND THE NATURE OF THE RIGHTS OF MINORS IS DISCUSSED. THE STANDARDS ARE SAID TO REFLECT THE RECOGNITION THAT THE CHILD MUST HAVE SUPPORT IN THE GRADUAL PASSAGE TOWARD ADULTHOOD BY GRANTING JUVENILES THE FULL RIGHTS OF ADULTS WHEN THEIR INTERESTS ARE JEOPARDIZED BY STATE ACTION, AND BY PROVIDING THEM WITH SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE WHEN NECESSARY. THE STANDARDS RECOGNIZE YOUTHS' NEED TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT STYLES OF LIVING AND MODES OF EXPRESSION BY REQUIRING THE STATE TO JUSTIFY COERCIVE INTERVENTION IN THE LIVES OF MINORS. THE STANDARDS ARE CHARACTERIZED AS PRAGMATIC, COMPREHENSIVE, FLEXIBLE, AND SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS AND DEMANDS OF CHILDREN. THE BASIC AIM OF THE STANDARDS IS TO STRIKE A BALANCE AMONG THE FORCES THAT MOLD A CHILD'S LIFE. (LKM)