IN JULY 1976 A LOCAL RULING REQUIRED THAT JUVENILE OFFENSES BE PRIORITIZED BY TYPE AND THAT THOSE OFFENDERS INVOLVED IN LOW PRIORITY OFFENSES NOT BE DETAINED. THIS NEW RULING PROMPTED A REVIEW OF THE EXISTING SITUATION. SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS WERE DEVISED: REVIEWING THE REFERRAL PROCESS AND PLACING EMPHASIS UPON USING EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, UTILIZING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AS SERVICE RESOURCES, AND BETTER DEFINITION OF THE ROLES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STAFF. MOREOVER, THE COURT SHOULD CONSIDER CREATING A STAFF POSITION FOR A PERSON WHO PRESENTED CASES TO THE COURT, AND DEVELOPING DEFINITE GUIDELINES FOR ALL JUVENILE COURT MATTERS...BS