IRELAND HAS THE LOWEST AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE WESTERN WORLD (7 YEARS) AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHETHER THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE LIBERALIZED TO DEFINE JUVENILE OFFENDERS AS MALADJUSTED AND DELINQUENT YOUNG PEOPLE OR KEPT UNALTERED AND VIEW CHILD OFFENDERS AS INCORRIGIBLE, VICIOUS YOUTHS. THE DIFFERENCE IN DEFINITION WOULD MEAN DIVERSION AND REHABILITATION ON THE ONE HAND AND INCARCERATION ON THE OTHER. MOST CRIMINOLOGISTS NOW ACCEPT A BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PROFILE OF YOUNG OFFENDERS. EARLY DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS EVIDENT IN MOST JUVENILE DELINQUENTS--MALADAPTIVE RESPONSES IN RELATION TO FEEDING, TEMPER TANTRUMS, HYPERACTIVITY, TRUANCY, AND AGGRESSIVENESS--AND MOST DELINQUENTS, ALTHOUGH NOT ALL, COME FROM CRUEL AND VIOLENT FAMILIES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY IS CRITICAL AND SOCIETY SHOULD LEARN TO INTERVENE IN THE FAMILY AT THE FIRST SIGNS OF TROUBLE. MANY INTERVENTIONS COULD BE MADE, INCLUDING SECURE DETENTION, INTENSIVE PROBATION SUPERVISION, RELATIONSHIPS WITH VOLUNTEER WORKERS, OUT-PATIENT PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT, FAMILY THERAPY, AND COMMITMENT TO MENTAL HOSPITALS AND MORE. (DAG)