diff --git a/src/mir/builder/control_flow/joinir/patterns/policies/balanced_depth_scan_policy.rs b/src/mir/builder/control_flow/joinir/patterns/policies/balanced_depth_scan_policy.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae5af55e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mir/builder/control_flow/joinir/patterns/policies/balanced_depth_scan_policy.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,587 @@
+//! Phase 107: Balanced depth-scan policy (json_cur find_balanced_* family)
+//!
+//! Responsibility (analysis only):
+//! - Recognize the `depth` scan loop shape with nested-if + `return i`
+//! - Produce a Pattern2-compatible break condition + derived recipe inputs
+//! - Fail-fast with tagged reasons when the shape is close but unsupported
+
+use crate::ast::{ASTNode, BinaryOperator, LiteralValue, Span};
+use crate::mir::join_ir::lowering::common::balanced_depth_scan_emitter::BalancedDepthScanRecipe;
+use crate::mir::join_ir::lowering::error_tags;
+use crate::mir::join_ir::lowering::loop_update_analyzer::{UpdateExpr, UpdateRhs};
+use crate::mir::join_ir::BinOpKind;
+
+use super::PolicyDecision;
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub(crate) struct PostLoopEarlyReturnPlan {
+    pub loop_counter_name: String,
+    pub bound_name: String,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub(crate) struct BalancedDepthScanPolicyResult {
+    pub break_condition_node: ASTNode,
+    pub allowed_body_locals_for_conditions: Vec<String>,
+    pub carrier_updates_override: BTreeMap<String, UpdateExpr>,
+    pub derived_recipe: BalancedDepthScanRecipe,
+    pub post_loop_early_return: PostLoopEarlyReturnPlan,
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn classify_balanced_depth_scan_array_end(
+    condition: &ASTNode,
+    body: &[ASTNode],
+) -> PolicyDecision<BalancedDepthScanPolicyResult> {
+    classify_balanced_depth_scan(condition, body, "[", "]")
+}
+
+fn classify_balanced_depth_scan(
+    condition: &ASTNode,
+    body: &[ASTNode],
+    open: &str,
+    close: &str,
+) -> PolicyDecision<BalancedDepthScanPolicyResult> {
+    // bounded loop: loop(i < n)
+    let (loop_counter_name, bound_name) = match extract_bounded_loop_counter(condition) {
+        Some(v) => v,
+        None => return PolicyDecision::None,
+    };
+
+    let summary = match extract_depth_scan_shape(body, &loop_counter_name, open, close) {
+        Ok(v) => v,
+        Err(reason) => return PolicyDecision::Reject(reason),
+    };
+
+    let depth_delta_name = "depth_delta".to_string();
+    let depth_next_name = "depth_next".to_string();
+    if summary.declared_locals.contains(&depth_delta_name) || summary.declared_locals.contains(&depth_next_name) {
+        return PolicyDecision::Reject(error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/name_conflict] 'depth_delta' or 'depth_next' is already declared in the loop body",
+        ));
+    }
+
+    let break_condition_node = ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+        operator: BinaryOperator::And,
+        left: Box::new(eq_str(var(&summary.ch_name), close)),
+        right: Box::new(eq_int(var(&depth_next_name), 0)),
+        span: Span::unknown(),
+    };
+
+    // Carrier update override (SSOT): depth = depth + depth_delta, i = i + 1
+    let mut carrier_updates_override: BTreeMap<String, UpdateExpr> = BTreeMap::new();
+    carrier_updates_override.insert(loop_counter_name.clone(), UpdateExpr::Const(1));
+    carrier_updates_override.insert(
+        summary.depth_name.clone(),
+        UpdateExpr::BinOp {
+            lhs: summary.depth_name.clone(),
+            op: BinOpKind::Add,
+            rhs: UpdateRhs::Variable(depth_delta_name.clone()),
+        },
+    );
+
+    PolicyDecision::Use(BalancedDepthScanPolicyResult {
+        break_condition_node,
+        allowed_body_locals_for_conditions: vec![summary.ch_name.clone(), depth_next_name.clone()],
+        carrier_updates_override,
+        derived_recipe: BalancedDepthScanRecipe {
+            depth_var: summary.depth_name,
+            ch_var: summary.ch_name,
+            open: open.to_string(),
+            close: close.to_string(),
+            depth_delta_name,
+            depth_next_name,
+        },
+        post_loop_early_return: PostLoopEarlyReturnPlan {
+            loop_counter_name,
+            bound_name,
+        },
+    })
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct DepthScanShapeSummary {
+    ch_name: String,
+    depth_name: String,
+    declared_locals: std::collections::BTreeSet<String>,
+}
+
+fn extract_bounded_loop_counter(condition: &ASTNode) -> Option<(String, String)> {
+    match condition {
+        ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+            operator: BinaryOperator::Less,
+            left,
+            right,
+            ..
+        } => match (left.as_ref(), right.as_ref()) {
+            (ASTNode::Variable { name: i, .. }, ASTNode::Variable { name: n, .. }) => {
+                Some((i.clone(), n.clone()))
+            }
+            _ => None,
+        },
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
+fn extract_depth_scan_shape(
+    body: &[ASTNode],
+    loop_counter_name: &str,
+    open: &str,
+    close: &str,
+) -> Result<DepthScanShapeSummary, String> {
+    if body.is_empty() {
+        return Err(error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/empty_body] empty loop body",
+        ));
+    }
+
+    // Collect declared locals to protect derived slot names.
+    let mut declared_locals: std::collections::BTreeSet<String> = std::collections::BTreeSet::new();
+    for stmt in body {
+        if let ASTNode::Local { variables, .. } = stmt {
+            for v in variables {
+                declared_locals.insert(v.clone());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Find `local ch = s.substring(i, i+1)` (name may vary, but must be a single local).
+    let ch_name = find_substring_body_local(body, loop_counter_name).ok_or_else(|| {
+        error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/missing_ch] missing body-local `ch = s.substring(i, i+1)`",
+        )
+    })?;
+
+    // Find open/close branches and extract `depth` name.
+    let (depth_from_open, depth_from_close, has_return_i) =
+        find_depth_branches(body, &ch_name, loop_counter_name, open, close)?;
+
+    if depth_from_open != depth_from_close {
+        return Err(error_tags::freeze(&format!(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/depth_mismatch] depth variable differs: open='{}', close='{}'",
+            depth_from_open, depth_from_close
+        )));
+    }
+
+    if !has_return_i {
+        return Err(error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/missing_return_i] missing `if depth == 0 { return i }` inside close branch",
+        ));
+    }
+
+    // Require a tail `i = i + 1` at top-level (keeps the family narrow).
+    let has_tail_inc = body.iter().any(|n| is_inc_assign(n, loop_counter_name, 1));
+    if !has_tail_inc {
+        return Err(error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/missing_tail_inc] missing `i = i + 1` tail update",
+        ));
+    }
+
+    // Reject other breaks/continues and non-matching returns (fail-fast).
+    let mut return_count = 0usize;
+    for stmt in body {
+        scan_control_flow(stmt, &mut return_count)?;
+    }
+    if return_count != 1 {
+        return Err(error_tags::freeze(&format!(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/return_count] expected exactly 1 return in loop body, got {}",
+            return_count
+        )));
+    }
+
+    Ok(DepthScanShapeSummary {
+        ch_name,
+        depth_name: depth_from_open,
+        declared_locals,
+    })
+}
+
+fn scan_control_flow(node: &ASTNode, return_count: &mut usize) -> Result<(), String> {
+    match node {
+        ASTNode::Break { .. } => Err(error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/unexpected_break] break is not allowed in this family (return-in-loop only)",
+        )),
+        ASTNode::Continue { .. } => Err(error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/unexpected_continue] continue is not allowed in this family",
+        )),
+        ASTNode::Return { .. } => {
+            *return_count += 1;
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        ASTNode::If {
+            then_body,
+            else_body,
+            ..
+        } => {
+            for s in then_body {
+                scan_control_flow(s, return_count)?;
+            }
+            if let Some(else_body) = else_body {
+                for s in else_body {
+                    scan_control_flow(s, return_count)?;
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        _ => Ok(()),
+    }
+}
+
+fn find_substring_body_local(body: &[ASTNode], loop_counter_name: &str) -> Option<String> {
+    for stmt in body {
+        let (name, init) = match stmt {
+            ASTNode::Local {
+                variables,
+                initial_values,
+                ..
+            } if variables.len() == 1 && initial_values.len() == 1 => (
+                variables[0].clone(),
+                initial_values[0].as_deref()?,
+            ),
+            _ => continue,
+        };
+
+        let (object, method, args) = match init {
+            ASTNode::MethodCall {
+                object,
+                method,
+                arguments,
+                ..
+            } => (object.as_ref(), method.as_str(), arguments.as_slice()),
+            _ => continue,
+        };
+        if method != "substring" {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if !matches!(object, ASTNode::Variable { .. }) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if args.len() != 2 {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if !matches!(&args[0], ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } if name == loop_counter_name) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if !is_var_plus_int(&args[1], loop_counter_name, 1) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        return Some(name);
+    }
+    None
+}
+
+fn find_depth_branches(
+    body: &[ASTNode],
+    ch_name: &str,
+    loop_counter_name: &str,
+    open: &str,
+    close: &str,
+) -> Result<(String, String, bool), String> {
+    let mut open_depth: Option<String> = None;
+    let mut close_depth: Option<String> = None;
+    let mut has_return_i = false;
+
+    for stmt in body {
+        let (cond, then_body) = match stmt {
+            ASTNode::If {
+                condition,
+                then_body,
+                else_body,
+                ..
+            } if else_body.is_none() => (condition.as_ref(), then_body.as_slice()),
+            _ => continue,
+        };
+
+        let lit = match cond {
+            ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+                operator: BinaryOperator::Equal,
+                left,
+                right,
+                ..
+            } if matches!(left.as_ref(), ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } if name == ch_name) => match right.as_ref() {
+                ASTNode::Literal { value: LiteralValue::String(s), .. } => s.as_str(),
+                _ => continue,
+            },
+            _ => continue,
+        };
+
+        if lit == open {
+            let depth_name = find_depth_delta_assign(then_body, 1)?;
+            open_depth = Some(depth_name);
+        } else if lit == close {
+            let depth_name = find_depth_delta_assign(then_body, -1)?;
+            close_depth = Some(depth_name.clone());
+            has_return_i = find_depth_zero_return(then_body, &depth_name, loop_counter_name);
+        }
+    }
+
+    let open_depth = open_depth.ok_or_else(|| {
+        error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/missing_open_branch] missing `if ch == open { depth = depth + 1 }`",
+        )
+    })?;
+    let close_depth = close_depth.ok_or_else(|| {
+        error_tags::freeze(
+            "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/missing_close_branch] missing `if ch == close { depth = depth - 1 ... }`",
+        )
+    })?;
+
+    Ok((open_depth, close_depth, has_return_i))
+}
+
+fn find_depth_delta_assign(stmts: &[ASTNode], delta: i64) -> Result<String, String> {
+    for stmt in stmts {
+        if let ASTNode::Assignment { target, value, .. } = stmt {
+            let depth_name = match target.as_ref() {
+                ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } => name.clone(),
+                _ => continue,
+            };
+            if delta == 1 && is_add_assign(value.as_ref(), &depth_name, 1) {
+                return Ok(depth_name);
+            }
+            if delta == -1 && is_sub_assign(value.as_ref(), &depth_name, 1) {
+                return Ok(depth_name);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Err(error_tags::freeze(&format!(
+        "[phase107/balanced_depth_scan/contract/missing_depth_update] missing `depth = depth {} 1` in branch",
+        if delta == 1 { "+" } else { "-" }
+    )))
+}
+
+fn find_depth_zero_return(stmts: &[ASTNode], depth_name: &str, loop_counter_name: &str) -> bool {
+    for stmt in stmts {
+        let (cond, then_body) = match stmt {
+            ASTNode::If {
+                condition,
+                then_body,
+                else_body,
+                ..
+            } if else_body.is_none() => (condition.as_ref(), then_body.as_slice()),
+            _ => continue,
+        };
+
+        let is_depth_zero = matches!(
+            cond,
+            ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+                operator: BinaryOperator::Equal,
+                left,
+                right,
+                ..
+            }
+            if matches!(left.as_ref(), ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } if name == depth_name)
+                && matches!(right.as_ref(), ASTNode::Literal { value: LiteralValue::Integer(0), .. })
+        );
+        if !is_depth_zero {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if then_body.iter().any(|n| matches!(
+            n,
+            ASTNode::Return { value: Some(v), .. }
+            if matches!(v.as_ref(), ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } if name == loop_counter_name)
+        )) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    false
+}
+
+fn is_inc_assign(node: &ASTNode, var_name: &str, step: i64) -> bool {
+    match node {
+        ASTNode::Assignment { target, value, .. } => match target.as_ref() {
+            ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } if name == var_name => is_add_assign(value.as_ref(), var_name, step),
+            _ => false,
+        },
+        _ => false,
+    }
+}
+
+fn is_add_assign(value: &ASTNode, var_name: &str, step: i64) -> bool {
+    matches!(
+        value,
+        ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+            operator: BinaryOperator::Add,
+            left,
+            right,
+            ..
+        }
+        if matches!(left.as_ref(), ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } if name == var_name)
+            && matches!(right.as_ref(), ASTNode::Literal { value: LiteralValue::Integer(n), .. } if *n == step)
+    )
+}
+
+fn is_sub_assign(value: &ASTNode, var_name: &str, step: i64) -> bool {
+    matches!(
+        value,
+        ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+            operator: BinaryOperator::Subtract,
+            left,
+            right,
+            ..
+        }
+        if matches!(left.as_ref(), ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } if name == var_name)
+            && matches!(right.as_ref(), ASTNode::Literal { value: LiteralValue::Integer(n), .. } if *n == step)
+    )
+}
+
+fn is_var_plus_int(node: &ASTNode, var_name: &str, n: i64) -> bool {
+    matches!(
+        node,
+        ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+            operator: BinaryOperator::Add,
+            left,
+            right,
+            ..
+        }
+        if matches!(left.as_ref(), ASTNode::Variable { name, .. } if name == var_name)
+            && matches!(right.as_ref(), ASTNode::Literal { value: LiteralValue::Integer(m), .. } if *m == n)
+    )
+}
+
+fn var(name: &str) -> ASTNode {
+    ASTNode::Variable {
+        name: name.to_string(),
+        span: Span::unknown(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn eq_str(left: ASTNode, s: &str) -> ASTNode {
+    ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+        operator: BinaryOperator::Equal,
+        left: Box::new(left),
+        right: Box::new(ASTNode::Literal {
+            value: LiteralValue::String(s.to_string()),
+            span: Span::unknown(),
+        }),
+        span: Span::unknown(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn eq_int(left: ASTNode, n: i64) -> ASTNode {
+    ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+        operator: BinaryOperator::Equal,
+        left: Box::new(left),
+        right: Box::new(ASTNode::Literal {
+            value: LiteralValue::Integer(n),
+            span: Span::unknown(),
+        }),
+        span: Span::unknown(),
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::ast::Span;
+
+    fn span() -> Span {
+        Span::unknown()
+    }
+
+    fn var_node(name: &str) -> ASTNode {
+        ASTNode::Variable {
+            name: name.to_string(),
+            span: span(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn int_lit(n: i64) -> ASTNode {
+        ASTNode::Literal {
+            value: LiteralValue::Integer(n),
+            span: span(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn str_lit(s: &str) -> ASTNode {
+        ASTNode::Literal {
+            value: LiteralValue::String(s.to_string()),
+            span: span(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn bin(op: BinaryOperator, left: ASTNode, right: ASTNode) -> ASTNode {
+        ASTNode::BinaryOp {
+            operator: op,
+            left: Box::new(left),
+            right: Box::new(right),
+            span: span(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn if_then(cond: ASTNode, then_body: Vec<ASTNode>) -> ASTNode {
+        ASTNode::If {
+            condition: Box::new(cond),
+            then_body,
+            else_body: None,
+            span: span(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn detects_balanced_array_end_min_shape() {
+        // loop(i < n) {
+        //   local ch = s.substring(i, i+1)
+        //   if ch == "[" { depth = depth + 1 }
+        //   if ch == "]" { depth = depth - 1; if depth == 0 { return i } }
+        //   i = i + 1
+        // }
+        let condition = bin(BinaryOperator::Less, var_node("i"), var_node("n"));
+        let local_ch = ASTNode::Local {
+            variables: vec!["ch".to_string()],
+            initial_values: vec![Some(Box::new(ASTNode::MethodCall {
+                object: Box::new(var_node("s")),
+                method: "substring".to_string(),
+                arguments: vec![var_node("i"), bin(BinaryOperator::Add, var_node("i"), int_lit(1))],
+                span: span(),
+            }))],
+            span: span(),
+        };
+        let open_branch = if_then(
+            bin(BinaryOperator::Equal, var_node("ch"), str_lit("[")),
+            vec![ASTNode::Assignment {
+                target: Box::new(var_node("depth")),
+                value: Box::new(bin(BinaryOperator::Add, var_node("depth"), int_lit(1))),
+                span: span(),
+            }],
+        );
+        let close_branch = if_then(
+            bin(BinaryOperator::Equal, var_node("ch"), str_lit("]")),
+            vec![
+                ASTNode::Assignment {
+                    target: Box::new(var_node("depth")),
+                    value: Box::new(bin(BinaryOperator::Subtract, var_node("depth"), int_lit(1))),
+                    span: span(),
+                },
+                if_then(
+                    bin(BinaryOperator::Equal, var_node("depth"), int_lit(0)),
+                    vec![ASTNode::Return {
+                        value: Some(Box::new(var_node("i"))),
+                        span: span(),
+                    }],
+                ),
+            ],
+        );
+        let tail_inc = ASTNode::Assignment {
+            target: Box::new(var_node("i")),
+            value: Box::new(bin(BinaryOperator::Add, var_node("i"), int_lit(1))),
+            span: span(),
+        };
+
+        let body = vec![local_ch, open_branch, close_branch, tail_inc];
+        let decision = classify_balanced_depth_scan_array_end(&condition, &body);
+        let result = match decision {
+            PolicyDecision::Use(v) => v,
+            other => panic!("expected Use, got {:?}", other),
+        };
+
+        assert_eq!(result.post_loop_early_return.loop_counter_name, "i");
+        assert_eq!(result.post_loop_early_return.bound_name, "n");
+        assert!(result.allowed_body_locals_for_conditions.contains(&"ch".to_string()));
+        assert!(result.allowed_body_locals_for_conditions.contains(&"depth_next".to_string()));
+        assert!(result.carrier_updates_override.contains_key("i"));
+        assert!(result.carrier_updates_override.contains_key("depth"));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/mir/builder/control_flow/joinir/patterns/policies/mod.rs b/src/mir/builder/control_flow/joinir/patterns/policies/mod.rs
index 07b5565c..89674244 100644
--- a/src/mir/builder/control_flow/joinir/patterns/policies/mod.rs
+++ b/src/mir/builder/control_flow/joinir/patterns/policies/mod.rs
@@ -33,3 +33,4 @@ pub enum PolicyDecision<T> {
 pub(in crate::mir::builder) mod p5b_escape_derived_policy;
 pub(in crate::mir::builder) mod trim_policy;
 pub(in crate::mir::builder) mod loop_true_read_digits_policy;
+pub(in crate::mir::builder) mod balanced_depth_scan_policy;
diff --git a/src/mir/join_ir/lowering/common.rs b/src/mir/join_ir/lowering/common.rs
index 505a1dab..a9a0ad1b 100644
--- a/src/mir/join_ir/lowering/common.rs
+++ b/src/mir/join_ir/lowering/common.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ pub mod body_local_slot; // Phase 92 P3: Read-only body-local slot for condition
 pub mod dual_value_rewriter; // Phase 246-EX/247-EX: name-based dual-value rewrites
 pub mod condition_only_emitter; // Phase 93 P0: ConditionOnly (Derived Slot) recalculation
 pub mod body_local_derived_emitter; // Phase 94: Derived body-local (P5b escape "ch" reassignment)
+pub mod balanced_depth_scan_emitter; // Phase 107: Balanced depth-scan (find_balanced_* recipe)
 pub mod string_accumulator_emitter; // Phase 100 P3-2: String accumulator (out = out + ch)
 
 use crate::mir::loop_form::LoopForm;
diff --git a/src/mir/join_ir/lowering/common/balanced_depth_scan_emitter.rs b/src/mir/join_ir/lowering/common/balanced_depth_scan_emitter.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..61be5272
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mir/join_ir/lowering/common/balanced_depth_scan_emitter.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+//! Phase 107: Balanced depth-scan derived emission (recipe only)
+//!
+//! This recipe is produced by builder-side policy (`patterns/policies/*`) and
+//! consumed by JoinIR lowering to derive:
+//! - `depth_delta`: per-iteration delta (-1/0/+1)
+//! - `depth_next`: depth + depth_delta (for break checks)
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct BalancedDepthScanRecipe {
+    pub depth_var: String,
+    pub ch_var: String,
+    pub open: String,
+    pub close: String,
+    pub depth_delta_name: String,
+    pub depth_next_name: String,
+}
+