THE YOUTH WHO COMMITTED THE MURDER KNEW THAT HE WOULD SPEND ONLY A FEW DAYS IN A JUVENILE HOME. HE ALWAYS ENDED BACK ON THE STREET, REGARDLESS OF THE SEVERITY OF HIS ACTS. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THIS PHENOMENON. JUVENILE COURTS AND DETENTION HOMES ARE OVERLOADED WITH CASES AND BOGGED DOWN IN A BUREAUCRATIC MORASS. ONLY THE MOST PRESSING AND PUBLICIZED CASES RECEIVE ANY PRIORITY OR SPECIAL HANDLING. WHILE SOME LAWS PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF JUVENILES ARE STRICT, OTHERS ARE AMBIGUOUS. AS A RESULT, AUTHORITIES ARE WARY OF DETAINING A TEENAGER FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS WITHOUT A HEARING AND JUVENILE COURT JUDGES ARE OFTEN RELUCTANT TO SEND A MINOR, EVEN ONE ARRESTED FOR A FELONY, TO COMMON PLEAS COURTS FOR PROSECUTION AS AN ADULT. THE YOUTH WHO MURDERED THE LAWYER WAS SENTENCED TO A JUVENILE INSTITUTION AND WILL BE FREE WITHIN 5 YEARS. EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED IN THE LIVES OF THE YOUTH WHO MURDERED THE LAWYER AND ANOTHER YOUTH WHO IMPLICATED THE YOUTH IN THE CRIME ARE DETAILED. JUVENILE CASE PROCESSING IN THE COUNTY IS DISCUSSED. (DEP)