PART OF AN AUDIOCASSETTE SERIES CONTAINING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1978 JUVENILE JUSTICE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, THIS DEBATE CONCERNS ONLY VIOLATIONS OF THE CRIMINAL CODE, NOT STATUS OFFENSES. ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF PUBLIC TRIALS OF JUVENILE DEFENDANTS INCLUDE, IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO VIEW ADJUDICATION PROCESSES, THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE QUALITY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DELIVERY, AND THE DESIRABILITY OF IMPARTING TO JUVENILE COURT HEARINGS THE SERIOUSNESS THAT IS GIVEN TO ADULT TRIALS. CLOSED HEARINGS CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC ATTITUDES OF DISRESPECT FOR JUSTICE, WHILE PUBLIC TRIALS, WHICH REMOVE THE SUSPICION OF CASUALNESS FROM JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS, HAVE ALSO A DETERRENT EFFECT ON DELINQUENCY. THE SUPREME COURT HAS NOT YET RULED ON THIS ISSUE, LEAVING IT TO THE STATES. JUVENILE DEFENDANTS (OR THEIR ATTORNEYS ON THEIR BEHALF) SHOULD NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A PUBLIC TRIAL FOR FRIVOLOUS REASONS. NO WRITTEN TEXT IS PROVIDED WITH THE CASSETTES. FOR RELATED CASSETTES, SEE NCJ 67692.