THE DISCUSSION OPENS WITH COMMENTS ON THE RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF THE COMMUNITY, WELFARE, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE APPROACHES ON JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES. THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTION OF THE COMMUNITY APPROACH, WHICH EMPHASIZES SOCIETAL INFLUENCES ON THE CHILD, IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE IDEA THAT COMPULSORY TREATMENT OF JUVENILES IS LIKELY TO STIGMATIZE THEM, LEAVING THEM UNCURED AND SPOILING THEIR IDENTITY. THIS IDEA HAS LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERMEDIATE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR JUVENILES IN BRITAIN. AS YET, THESE TWO PROGRAMS ARE NOT SEEN AS STIGMATIZING. HOWEVER, HISTORY SHOWS THAT EACH TIME AN INSTITUTION IS SET UP TO DEAL WITH TROUBLESOME CHILDREN, THE INSTITUTION ITSELF BECOMES STIGMATIZING IN TIME. THIS SITUATION MAY BE INEVITABLE AS LONG AS COMPULSORY TREATMENT IS INVOLVED, THE IMPLICATION BEING THAT IT MAY BE IMPORTANT HOW CHILDREN REACH YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS AND INTERMEDIATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS. HERE, AS IN OTHER ASPECTS OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, CONFLICT BETWEEN THE CHILD'S RIGHTS AND THE CHILD'S NEEDS APPEARS. THE ONLY SOLUTION APPEARS TO LIE IN A CONTINUING EFFORT TO BALANCE THE DEMANDS INHERENT IN ATTEMPTS TO SECURE JUVENILE JUSTICE. (LKM)