ROLE CONFLICT EXPERIENCED BY JUVENILE OFFICERS IN POLICE DETECTIVE DIVISIONS IS OFTEN TWOFOLD: (1) JUVENILE DETECTIVES PERCEIVE SOCIAL AGENCIES PROVIDING SERVICES TO YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS AS HOSTILE TOWARD THEM; AND (2) FELLOW OFFICERS ASSIGN A LOW PRIORITY TO THE SERVICE ROLE OF JUVENILE DETECTIVES. COMMUNICATION IS FREQUENTLY LACKING BETWEEN YOUTH-SERVING AGENCIES AND THE POLICE. WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A DIVISION THAT HAS SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH JUVENILES AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, OVER 50 PERCENT OF JUVENILE CASES REFERRED TO DETECTIVE BUREAUS BY PATROLMEN ARE DIVERTED FROM THE REST OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN MANY CASES, JUVENILE DETECTIVES WORK WITH OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SEARCH FOR ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES TO FILING A DELINQUENCY PETITION AGAINST YOUTH IN COURT. OFFICERS SPECIALIZING IN JUVENILE PROBLEMS MAKE ARRESTS AND PREPARE CASES FOR PROSECUTION; AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE USUALLY THE FIRST TO ATTEMPT AN ASSESSMENT OF A CHILD'S SOCIAL SITUATION. THE MAJOR PROBLEM CONFRONTING POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AREA OF JUVENILE SERVICES IS ONE IN WHICH ACCEPTANCE BY ADMINISTRATION AND ALL DEPARTMENT DIVISIONS MUST OCCUR IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE VITAL ROLE OF JUVENILE OFFICERS. SUPPORT TO CARRY OUT THE TASK OF DEALING WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS MUST BE PERCEIVED AS A GENUINE POLICE FUNCTION. FOOTNOTES ARE LISTED. (DEP)