THE STUDY EXAMINED A COHORT OF ALL 187 'PERSONS IN NEED OF SUPERVISION' (PINS) CASES APPEARING AT THE MANHATTAN FAMILY COURT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) FROM APRIL 1 THROUGH MAY 30, 1977. WHEN COMPARED WITH PINS CASES ENTERING AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR, THE STUDY COHORT PROVED TO BE REPRESENTATIVE IN TERMS OF AGE, SEX, SOURCE OF PETITION, AND INTAKE DISPOSITION. PETITIONERS AND CHILDREN WERE INTERVIEWED BY RESEARCH STAFF BEFORE SEEING ANY COURT OFFICIAL. ADDITIONAL DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS, FROM A DETAILED QUESTIONNAIRE ASSESSMENT BY THE PROBATION INTAKE WORKER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INTAKE INTERVIEW, AND FROM A BRIEF ASSESSMENT BY THE INTAKE HEARING JUDGE DRAWN UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIRST COURT APPEARANCE FOR THOSE CASES THAT WENT TO COURT ON PETITION. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN WERE REFERRED BY THEIR PARENTS AFTER MANIFESTATIONS OF MULTIPLE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS FOR WHICH HELP HAD BEEN SOUGHT BUT WITHOUT SATISFACTORY RESULTS. THE FAMILY COURT APPEARED TO BE THE LAST RESORT FOR THE MAJORITY OF CASES. THE STUDY FINDINGS SUGGEST A NEED FOR VOLUNTARY COURT INTERVENTION TO AID TROUBLED FAMILIES IN DEALING WITH SERIOUS BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS NOT AMENABLE TO HELP FROM SOCIAL SERVICES. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)