THE JUVENILE COURT IN NIGERIA IS PRESIDED OVER BY A TRAINED MAGISTRATE AND IS STAFFED BY LAY PERSONS. WELFARE OFFICERS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ARRESTING AND GATHERING BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON JUVENILE OFFENDERS. WHILE AWAITING AN APPEARANCE BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE, JUVENILES ARE KEPT IN A REMAND HOME. THESE HOMES HAVE A VARIED QUALITY OF STAFF, BUT SELDOM HAVE A DOCTOR, PSYCHOLOGIST, OR CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC. DISPOSITIONS APPLICABLE TO JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE PROBATION AND COMMITTAL TO APPROVED SCHOOL, IN WHICH THE OFFENDER RECEIVES A BETTER EDUCATION THAN A NORMAL CHILD OF A POOR FAMILY. A PROPOSAL HAS BEEN MADE TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN THE PROBATION PROCESS BY SCREENING AND SELECTING ADULT INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEND TIME WITH DELINQUENT CHILDREN. TRADITIONAL METHODS OF CONTROLLING CHILDREN ARE STILL POSSIBLE IN NIGERIA AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR COPYING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS OF THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, BUT THIS MAY WORK TO THEIR ADVANTAGE SINCE THEY WILL BE CHALLENGED TO USE OTHER SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. NO REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DAG)