Because court participation in this compilation is voluntary, the categorical breakdowns account for information from counties representing approximately 45 percent of the State's juvenile population. However, because of the aggregate information from St Louis City, Jackson, and St Louis Counties, the total referrals account for an area that contains 95 percent of the juvenile population. A number of tables are summarized by the standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA) designation. Referrals for traffic offenses and for adoptions for 1978, as well as for prior years back to 1937 are reported. The total reported juvenile delinquency referrals was 52,360 (a 7.8 percent increase in nontraffic referrals). Of these, 16,736 (32 percent) were for traffic violations (a 22.1 percent increase). The reasons for referral were juvenile or status offenses, including running away; truancy; violation of curfew; ungovernable behavior; and possession or drinking of liquor. Adult-type or delinquent offenses, which accounted for 67.8 percent of the 1978 referrals, include murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, sex offenses, purse snatching, robbery, assault, auto theft, and possession of weapons, among others. Females were referred for status offenses 38.4 percent of the time compared to 18.3 percent of males. A greater percentage of misdemeanor public order referrals were handled unofficially than any other offense category, while status offenses were handled unofficially more often than officially. The 'dismissed and warned' category is the most prevalent type of disposition both in and outside of the SMSA's. There were also 6,855 referrals reported for abuse, and neglect; 62.2 percent of these children required no care outside the home prior to the disposition of their cases. Of the 1,837 abuse and neglect cases for which disposition information was obtained, 685 (37.3 percent were referred to another agency for supervision or service. Tabular data and survey instruments are provided.