A SAMPLE OF 30 BOYS REMANDED TO STAMFORD HOUSE REGIONAL ASSESSMENT CENTER IN LONDON FOR REPORTS FOR THE COURTS AND ON CARE-ORDER ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS WAS ASKED TO GIVE REASONS FOR THEIR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, USING THEIR OWN WORDS WITHOUT PROMPTING OR DETAILED QUESTIONING FROM THE INTERVIEWER. A TOTAL OF 80 PERCENT SAID THEY COMMITTED THEIR OFFENSES BECAUSE THEY NEEDED MONEY; SECOND IN FREQUENCY OF REASONS GIVEN WAS BOREDOM AND THE NEED FOR EXCITEMENT (67 PERCENT); AND 53 PERCENT SAID PROBLEMS WITH PARENTS CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. EVEN THOUGH THE SAMPLE WAS SMALL, RESULTS WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED IN BELSON'S STUDY ENTITLED 'CAUSAL FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STEALING BY LONDON BOYS.' WHEN THE SAMPLE OF 30 WAS ASKED WHAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COURTS MIGHT DO TO HELP REDUCE THEIR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, A MAJORITY SUGGESTED PROVIDING MORE YOUTH CLUBS AND DISCOS WHERE YOUTH MIGHT CONGREGATE AND PARTICIPATE IN INTERESTING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. IN TERMS OF COURT ACTION, MANY SUGGESTED IMPRESSING UPON YOUTH THE SERIOUSNESS OF THEIR BEHAVIOR BY LIMITED STAYS IN PRISONS TO SHOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONTINUED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND MORE SEVERE DISPOSITION FOR FIRST OFFENDERS. STEALING IS APPARENTLY A REFLECTION OF A GENERAL MORAL BREAKDOWN, WHERE THERE IS A NOTABLE ABSENCE OF EDUCATIONAL AND FAMILIAL INFLUENCES THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE INTERNALIZATION BY YOUTH OF PRINCIPLES CONDEMNING STEALING. (RCB)