HIDDEN DEPRESSION IN YOUNG OFFENDERS IS ORDINARILY NOT EXPRESSED IN EASILY RECOGNIZED FORMS. THE DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION IS JUSTIFIED IN SOME JUVENILE AND YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS, WITH ACTING OUT AS A DEFENSIVE FUNCTION AGAINST HIDDEN FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION AND LOW SELF-ESTEEM. ACTING OUT OFTEN RESULTS IN SUCH ACTS AS BREAKING AND ENTERING, CAR THEFT, PROMISCUITY, AND GETTING HIGH FROM ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. TO ASCERTAIN INTENSIVE PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC CAPABILITIES IN THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD OF THE MELROSE-WAKEFIELD HOSPITAL IN MELROSE, MASS., CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION TO THE WARD WERE ESTABLISHED, INCLUDING AN AGE RANGE FROM 14 TO 17 OR 18 YEARS. ACTING OUT HAD TO BE SERIOUS AND PROLONGED ENOUGH TO WARRANT THE ASSUMPTION THAT PERSONNEL WERE INDEED DEALING WITH HIDDEN DEPRESSION THAT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY HOSPITALIZATION. TRADITIONAL OUTPATIENT PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACHES HAD FAILED. IN IMPLEMENTING THE INPATIENT TREATMENT APPROACH, IT WAS NECESSARY TO INTEGRATE THERAPEUTIC CAPABILITIES OF THE COURT CLINIC-PROBATION OFFICE TEAM WITH THERAPEUTIC CAPABILITIES OF THE HOSPITAL. HOSPITAL STAFF WERE INITIALLY HESITANT TO WORK WITH DELINQUENTS, AND THEIR VIEWS IMPOSED AN INJUNCTION AGAINST ACTING OUT AS DETRIMENTAL TO THERAPEUTIC GOALS OF THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD AS A WHOLE. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO STAFF THAT YOUNG OFFENDERS WITH HIDDEN DEPRESSION HAD TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO A STATE OF ACTIVE DEPRESSION SO THAT THEY COULD FEEL, TOUCH, AND EXPERIENCE. THREE CITED CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATE THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD'S EXPERIENCE IN CONCEPTUALIZING DELINQUENCY AND HIDDEN DEPRESSION AND IN SEEING SOME OFFENDERS AS HAVING SYMPTOM NEUROSIS RATHER THAN CHARACTER DISORDERS. (DEP)