A SPECTRUM OF PROGRAMS HAS BEEN DIRECTED AT PREVENTION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY THROUGH MODIFICATION OF CRIMINOGENIC CONDITIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THROUGH EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION IN THE LIVES OF THE HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS (E.G., PRE-DELINQUENT SCREENING). ONE OF THE MANY PROGRAMS CONDUCTED IN CHICAGO, THE CHICAGO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CYDP), APPROACHED DELINQUENCY PREVENTION THROUGH 'STREET CLUB' WORK WITH YOUNGSTERS. IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, A MAJOR PROGRAM APPROACHED DELINQUENCY PREVENTION THROUGH SCHOOLS. BOTH PROGRAMS HAD A LIMITED SUCCESS. THE SURVEYS OF SIMILAR PROGRAMS SHOWED THAT THEY WERE ALSO INEFFECTIVE. FURTHERMORE, THEIR SUBSEQUENT EVALUATION LACKED EMPIRICAL DATA NECESSARY TO DEVELOP THE GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS. IN VIEW OF THIS A CAREFUL ASSESSMENT OF THE EXISTING STATE OF THE ART IN DELINQUENCY PREVENTION IS RECOMMENDED. HOWEVER, MUCH FUNDING WHICH IS NEEDED FOR SUCH RESEARCH GOES TO EXPAND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, DESPITE SUBSTANTIAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVENESS OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND ITS HIGH COST. IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS JOIN THE DEBATE FOR CHANGE IN PUBLIC POLICY TO REDUCE THE OUTREACH AND JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. TWELVE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.