THE COMMISSION ON JUVENILE JUSTICE STANDARDS PROJECT, APPOINTED JOINTLY BY THE INSTITUTE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION AND THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, WAS CREATED IN 1971 TO DEVELOP UNIFORM NATIONAL STANDARDS THAT WOULD IMPROVE ALL ASPECTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH THE COMMISSION'S WORK IS ESSENTIALLY COMPLETED, THE PROJECT IS NOW WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARDS ARE READY FOR AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ADOPTION AT THEIR MID-YEAR MEETING IN FEBRUARY 1979. THE BELLWEATHER DECISION OF THE COMMISSION IS THOUGHT TO REFLECT A TREND TOWARD NARROWING SIGNIFICANLTY THE JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE COURT. THIS IS PARTICULARLY MANIFEST IN THE DECISIONS TO REMOVE STATUS OFFENSES FROM JUVENILE COURT ADJUDICATION. APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF THE CASES COMING BEFORE JUVENILE COURT INVOLVE TRUANCY, RUNAWAYS, AND BEHAVIOR UNGOVERNABLE BY PARENTS. DISPOSITIONS OF THESE CASES HAVE FREQUENTLY LED TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION, IN ADDITION TO PRETRIAL DETENTION. IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY EVIDENCE THAT THIS PROCEDURE ALTERS BEHAVIOR TOWARD MORE POSITIVE ADJUSTMENT BEHAVIOR AND MUCH EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY, THE COMMISSION HAS CONCLUDED THAT EVERY PRINCIPLE OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS POINTS TOWARD THE ELIMINATION OF THIS COURT ACTIVITY. A REDUCTION OF THE COURT'S LOAD IN THIS TIME AND RESOURCES IN DEALING WITH THE SERIOUS ADULT CRIMES INCREASINGLY COMMITTED BY JUVENILES. IT IS PROPOSED THAT A PORTION OF THE COST SAVINGS BE DIVERTED TO FAMILY, SOCIAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES ORIENTED TOWARD A NONPUNITIVE, LESS STIGMATIZING APPROACH TO DEALING WITH JUVENILES EVIDENCING MALADJUSTMENT. (RCB)