In many States, the term delinquent is applied to all acts for which juveniles might appear before the police, even for such noncriminal acts as running away or truancy. The laws governing delinquency vary from State to State. In order to help children without imposing a court record on them, diversion is a logical consideration. Juvenile officers are the first to make decisions regarding diversion of a particular juvenile. If the officer takes care to establish rapport with the juvenile and to earn his or her trust, to listen to his or her story, and to examine the circumstances surrounding the supposedly delinquent act, the officer can make decisions for diversion which may prevent any such future acts. Adjudication and probation label a juvenile 'delinquent' and could lead to future delinquent acts. Diversion, much more of a preventative process, aims at finding solutions to the child's rather than punishing for behavior.