PRESENT ATTEMPTS AT CARE AND CONTROL OF YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF RESEARCH THAT HAS AIMED AT IDENTIFYING FUTURE YOUNG OFFENDERS AT AN EARLY AGE AND AT TAKING APPROPRIATE PREVENTIVE ACTION IN ADVANCE. PREDICTION METHODS ARE CONSIDERED--AND STUDIES OF BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC METHODS OF INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION ARE DETAILED. ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO STUDIES OF COST EFFECTIVENESS OF GROUP HOME PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS, THE VALIDITY OF MEASURES OF TREATMENT OUTCOMES, AND THE COOPERATION OR NONCOOPERATION OF ALL PARTICIPANTS IN PROGRAMS. AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THESE DISCUSSIONS OF PROGRAM FAILURES AND SUCCESSES, THE SHAPE PROGRAM IS REVIEWED. PURPOSES AND PROCEDURES OF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH THE TEMPORARY RENOVATION OF 'SHORT LIFE' HOUSING PROPERTIES IN AN INNER CITY AREA AS A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM FOR YOUTHS, ARE OUTLINED. THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION IS BROKEN DOWN INTO CONSIDERATION OF ITS THREE STAGES: AN EVALUATION AND OBSERVATION STAGE WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL'S TREATMENT PROGRAM IS SET UP; A STAGE WHERE THE CLIENT DEVELOPS GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELF-MANAGEMENT AND IS INVOLVED IN WORK PROGRAMS; AND A STAGE WHERE TARGET BEHAVIORS ARE GENERALIZED TO INDEPENDENT LIFE IN SINGLE-PERSON ACCOMMODATION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.