THE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL WELFARE ARE OUTLINED AND ITS HISTORICAL EVOLUTION IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND IS DESCRIBED. THE SOCIAL WELFARE APPROACH TO JUVENILE JUSTICE WHICH REJECTS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE APPROACH, CONSIDERS THE JUVENILE OFFENDER AS A NEEDY PERSON WHOSE DELINQUENCY EVOLVES FROM THE NEED, AND PREFERS ADMINISTRATIVE AND CONSULTATIVE DECISIONMAKING BY PROFESSIONALS, PRIMARILY SOCIAL WORKERS, TO MAKE THE JUDGMENTS REGARDING TREATMENT MEASURES. THE ENGLISH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1969 (PARTIALLY ADOPTED AS LEGISLATION) AND THE SCOTTISH SOCIAL WORK ACT 1968 (FULLY ADOPTED AS LEGISLATION) ARE DISCUSSED ALONG WITH THE INFLUENCE OF CIVIL SERVICE AND VARIOUS PRESSURE GROUPS, PRACTITIONERS, AND POLICYMAKERS ON THE OUTCOME OF JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION. THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE APPROACH ARE CRITICIZED IN BOTH THEORY AND PRACTICE, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE NEW SCOTTISH JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, A RESULT OF THE SOCIAL WORK ACT. THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUVENILE CASE PROCESSING IN THE SCOTTISH SYSTEM WAS CONSIDERED IN A 1972-1973 STUDY, AND THE CASES OF A PARTICULAR GROUP OF CHILDREN WERE TRACED FROM THE INITIAL REFERRAL STAGE TO THE POLICE OR REPORTERS AND THROUGH TO THE FINAL DISPOSAL AT THE HEARING. FINDINGS ARE EXAMINED GIVING SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES ON DECISIONMAKING PROCESSES. THE FINAL CHAPTERS DISCUSS THE DESIRABILITY OF SOCIAL WELFARE PRINCIPLES IN RELATION TO CHILDREN WHO OFFEND AND IDEAS FOR FUTURE POLICY. DATA FROM THE SCOTTISH STUDY, BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)