JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN THE BRITISH ISLES GENERALLY COME FROM FAMILIES OF SEMISKILLED AND UNSKILLED WORKERS, IN THE POORER DISTRICTS OF THE LARGER TOWNS. APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF ALL DETECTED CRIMINAL OFFENSES ARE COMMITTED BY YOUTHS UNDER 17 YEARS OF AGE, AND EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT 78 PERCENT OF ALL FIRST OFFENDERS NEVER BREAK THE LAW AGAIN. THEREFORE, IT IS NOT ALWAYS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF SOCIETY TO GIVE THESE DELINQUENTS A DAMAGING CRIMINAL RECORD. ALTERNATIVES TO PENAL INCARCERATION, IMPROVED CASE WORK, AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE NOW BEING DEVELOPED. POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM HAVE ADOPTED POLICIES EMPHASIZING PREVENTIVE ASPECTS OF POLICING, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO JUVENILE OFFENDER. SPECIFIC POLICIES AND PROGRAMS OF SEVERAL CITIES' POLICE FORCES ARE DESCRIBED. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON DIVERSION, COUNSELING, AND FAMILY COOPERATION. THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT OF 1969 CREATED SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS FOR TREATMENT OF YOUNG OFFENDERS DIVERTED FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYTEMS; THESE AGENCIES, HOWEVER, HAVE PROVED INEFFECTIVE IN PRACTICE AND ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BY PARLIAMENT. THREE DISTINCT TREATMENT PROGRAM MODELS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY CRIMINOLOGISTS DURING THIS CENTURY: THE PENAL TREATMENT MODEL, WHICH ADVOCATES LONG TERM CORRECTIVE PUNISHMENT; THE COMPASSION TREATMENT MODEL, CONSISTING OF WELFARE AND HUMANE TREATMENT PROJECTS; AND THE VOLUNTEER CONTRACT TREATMENT MODEL, UNDER WHICH THE CLIENT MUST VOLUNTEER TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE WHICH MAY BE OFFERED HIM AND MUST EXPRESS A SINCERE WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE. SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN HELPING TO CHANGE SOCIETY'S ATTITUDES TOWARD THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED.