SUBJECTS OF THE STUDY WERE A GROUP OF YOUNG MALE DELINQUENTS, AGES 14 TO 16, HELD AT A RECEPTION CENTER IN MASSACHUSETTS. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED SHORTLY AFTER ADMITTANCE TO THE CENTER AND BEFORE INSTITUTIONAL ASSIGNMENT. THE DATA REFLECTED THE ATTITUDES WITH WHICH DELINQUENTS ENTERED AN INSTITUTION AND WERE NOT A CONSEQUENCE OF THE INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE ITSELF. THE STUDY WAS CONCERNED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE YOUTHS' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE REFORMATORY AND PAROLE OFFICIALS (JUDGES, POLICE, PROBATION OFFICERS, INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIALS) COMPARED WITH THEIR ATTITUDES ABOUT THEIR FATHERS, TEACHERS, BOSSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND GOOD FRIENDS. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT THE DELINQUENTS FELT POSITIVELY ABOUT THE JUVENILE OFFICERS, SUGGESTING THAT THE OFFICERS MAY BE STRATEGIC IN THE EARLY HANDLING OF OFFENDERS. DELINQUENTS REGARDED THE COURT PROCEDURE WITH AVERSION AND VIEWED THE JUDGE AS UNINTERESTED AND IMPERSONAL. DELINQUENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD THEIR FATHERS AND TOWARDS SOCIAL WORKERS WERE FAVORABLE. THE FINDINGS ALSO DISCLOSED THAT AS THEY ENTERED AN INSTITUTION, THE DELINQUENTS DID NOT YET IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS DELINQUENT, ALTHOUGH THEY PERCEIVED FELLOW INMATES IN THAT LIGHT. THE FINDINGS STRONGLY SUGGEST THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSESSING THE ATTITUDES OF THE NEWLY ENTERED INMATES AND BASING DECISIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL ASSIGNMENT ON THESE ATTITUDES. FOR INSTANCE, THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF PROBATION SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED AND WIDER USE SHOULD BE MADE OF SOCIAL WORK CLINICS BEFORE COURT APPEARANCE. TABULAR DATA ARE GIVEN. SEE NCJ 64131. (MJW)