OF THE 1,070 YOUNG PEOPLE GIVEN EITHER CARE OR SUPERVISION ORDERS DURING THE STUDY PERIOD, 875 HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH OFFENSES. THEIR COURT RECORDS FORM THE BASIS OF THIS STUDY. MOST RECEIVED THEIR FIRST ORDER FOR A PROPERTY OFFENSE. AVERAGE VALUE INVOLVED WAS 84 POUNDS STERLING, ALTHOUGH MANY INVOLVED 10 POUNDS OR LESS. THERE WERE FEW VIOLENT OFFENSES OR SEXUAL OFFENSES. ALTHOUGH IT WAS FOUND THAT NEITHER SENTENCING NOR TYPE OF PLACEMENT COULD BE RELATED TO THE FACTORS AVAILABLE FOR STUDY, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SUBTLE BACKGROUND DIFFERENCES AFFECT THESE DECISIONS. HOWEVER, THE STUDY DID FIND SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN EFFECTIVENESS FOR EACH TYPE OF DISPOSITION. CARE ORDERS HAD THE LOWEST RECIDIVISM RATES, PROBATION SUPERVISION ORDERS NEXT, AND LOCAL AUTHORITY SUPERVISION ORDERS THE HIGHEST REARREST RATES. HOWEVER, OFFENSE AND OFFENDER FACTORS WERE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS TYPE OF ORDER IN DETERMINING THE PROBABILITY OF RECIDIVISM, AND DEGREE OF CONTACT WITH AGENCY STAFF IS THOUGHT TO BE THE MOST LIKELY EXPLANATION FOR THIS DIFFERENCE. YOUNGSTERS WITH A NUMBER OF SHORT PLACEMENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE REARRESTED THAN THOSE WITH SUSTAINED STAFF CONTACT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CARE ORDERS BE USED ONLY WHEN REMOVAL FROM THE HOME IS UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THAT WHEN THEY ARE USED, A FIRM COMMITMENT SHOULD BE MADE TO PROVIDING INTENSIVE CONTACT BETWEEN THE JUVENILES AND CONCERNED SOCIAL WORKERS. TABLES PRESENT THE STUDY DATA. (FOR PHASE I, SEE NCJ 53648). (GLR)