THE HISTORY OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM IN MISSISSIPPI IS TRACED BACK TO THE MISSISSIPPI INDUSTRIAL AND TRAINING SCHOOL ACT OF 1916. A HEAVILY FOOTNOTED HISTORY TRACES LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS AND COURT DECISIONS AFFECTING THE SYSTEM. CURRENTLY, MISSISSIPPI'S COURTS ARE OPERATING UNDER THE 1946 YOUTH COURT ACT. A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT THE BASIC SYSTEM HAS NOT CHANGED TO REFLECT THE DUE PROCESS DECISIONS OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. OTHER PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED ARE THE VAGUE TERMINOLOGY OF THE YOUTH COURT ACT WHICH ALLOWS UNLIMITED DISCRETION IN THE HANDLING OF STATUS OFFENDERS, THE TREATMENT OF STATUS OFFENDERS AS DELINQUENTS, LIMITED SOCIAL SERVICES, THE STIGMATIZING EFFECT OF ADJUDICATION, AND A LACK OF REGULAR SAFEGUARDS FOR DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS. A MODEL FAMILY COURT ACT IS DRAWN UP AND PRESENTED AS AN ANSWER TO THESE PROBLEMS. ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF A TOTAL OVERHAUL OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM OF MISSISSIPPI ARE PRESENTED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)