Criminal offender-victim interactions are discussed within the framework provided by criminal opportunity theory and economic theory. A meta-analysis of concurrent and longitudinal studies of family factors in juvenile delinquency shows that socialization variables, such as lack of parental supervision and parent-child involvement, are powerful predictors of juvenile behavior problems and delinquency. Also reviewed are studies of chronic juvenile offenders, juvenile to adult criminal careers, and factors influencing both juvenile and criminal court dispositions of the chronic juvenile and young adult offender. Official crime statistics, longitudinal and cross-sectional research, and self-report data are used to examine the relationship between age and criminal activity. Uniform Crime Report and National Crime Survey data are compared with respect to their findings on crime patterns and trends and victim and offender characteristics. Finally, an economic analysis of drug law enforcement efforts suggests that such effort will be more effective in curtailing the heroin than the cocaine and marijuana markets. Chapter references.