THE DANGEROUS SERIOUS OFFENDER IS ONE WHO COMMITS ASSAULTIVE CRIMES, EITHER REPEATEDLY OR FOLLOWING OTHER ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. THE LESS DANGEROUS SERIOUS OFFENDER IS A CHRONIC OFFENDER WHO IS DEDICATED TO A DELINQUENT LIFESTYLE. PREVENTIVE EFFORTS SHOULD IDENTIFY CHILDREN AT HIGH RISK OF BECOMING ASSAULTIVE DELINQUENTS AND REFER THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SERVICES THAT ASSIST BEHAVIORALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN. SERIOUS DELINQUENTS SHOULD BE PLACED IN SECURE SETTINGS FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD OF EVALUATION AND STABILIZATION. DELINQUENT EGO DEFICIENCIES NEED CORRECTION THROUGH A PROGRAM OF PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS AND A STRUCTURED COMMUNTIY MILIEU THROUGH WHICH THE OFFENDER CAN ATTAIN NEW AWARENESS AND BEHAVIORS. COMMUNITY CONTACTS AND SERVICES CAN INCLUDE FAMILY RESTRUCTURING, FOSTER PLACEMENT, GROUP HOME PLACEMENT, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, WORK EXPERIENCES, SPECIALIZED GROUP EXPERIENCES, STRUCTURED CONTACTS WITH RELATIVES, DAY TREATMENTS, AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS. THE MILIEU'S EFFECTIVENESS WILL DEPEND ON THE PRIMARY COUNSELOR WHO WILL BE AVAILABLE DAILY TO HELP THE CHILD OR ADOLESCENT. THE PRIMARY COUNSELOR SHOULD BE INNOVATIVE, UNDERSTANDING AND HAVE COMMON SENSE. COUNSELING SERVICES SHOULD BE INDIVIDUALIZED. THIS PROPOSED PROGRAM MAXIMIZES THE CHANCES FOR MATCHING A CHILD'S ASSESSED NEEDS WITH AN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT RESPONSE. FORTY-ONE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.