PROSECUTION OF STATUS OFFENDERS THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. MANY STATUS OFFENDERS EVENTUALLY SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS OR COULD OBTAIN SOLUTIONS THROUGH AGENCIES OTHER THAN JUVENILE COURTS. LEGISLATION IS RECOMMENDED THAT WOULD PROVIDE NONJUDICIAL ALTERNATIVES FOR HELPING RUNAWAY CHILDREN, TRUANTS, AND PROBLEM STUDENTS. STATUS OFFENDERS FREQUENTLY SERVE STRICTER SENTENCES THAN JUVENILES WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF VIOLENT CRIMES. STUDIES INDICATE THAT INCARCERATED JUVENILES HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO ABUSE WHILE SERVING IN INSTITUTIONS FOR VIOLENT CRIMINALS. SUBSTANDARD TREATMENT OF STATUS OFFENDERS COSTS $20,000 PER YEAR IN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY COULD BE SPENT MORE EFFECTIVELY ON NONPENAL TREATMENT. COUNSEL FOR JUVENILES IN COURT IS RECOMMENDED, DESPITE THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN JUVENILE COURTS AND CRIMINAL COURTS. (TWK)