THE INTERVENTION IS BASED ON A PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCEPTION OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN A LEGAL ONE, AND FAMILY THERAPY IS THE CORE. THE EVALUATION OF THIS VOLUNTARY PRECOURT COUNSELING PROGRAM, THE METHOD OF WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN THE PAPER, REVEALED THAT THE SERVICES PROVIDED WERE EFFECTIVE FOR TREATING JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS. THERE WERE SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER CASES BEING TAKEN TO COURT WHEN COMPARED WITH A SAMPLE OF CASES PRIOR TO THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM. FURTHER, AT THE END OF THE ESTABLISHED INTERVENTION PERIOD, MOST CASES WERE REFERRED TO THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, RATHER THAN TO THE JUVENILE COURT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)