IT WAS FOUND THAT IN A LARGE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES SPECIAL POLICE UNITS HAVE BEEN SET UP TO DEAL WITH THE PREVENTION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. APART FROM A FEW EXCEPTIONS THE METHODS OF SELECTING THE OFFICERS TO WORK IN THESE UNITS ARE FAIRLY EMPIRICAL. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS, MOST OF THESE OFFICERS APPEAR TO RECEIVE ONLY VERY ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION OR EVEN NONE AT ALL; THE GENERAL TRAINING GIVEN TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS AND ON THE EXPERIENCE OF EACH OFFICER CONCERNED SEEM TO BE TAKEN AS A BASIS. ADOPTION OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT'S MODEL TRAINING PROGRAM, PROPOSED IN 1956, IS URGED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)