Normal children are responsible for their actions from early childhood, and adequately socialized children experience guilt and caring for others by early school age. It is normal for adolescents to experience transient failures in responsibility, and for children and adolescents to be less responsible than adults. A separate system of justice for juveniles is justifiable on the basis of the developmental differences in responsibility. This proposition cannot be used to justify a separate court system. Removing punishment as a response to juvenile offenses and replacing it with treatment undermines personal responsibility by excusing the offensive behavior as the result of some incapacity, disorder, or illness. Juveniles who offend need some punishment as a reminder of responsibility. Punishment, combined with treatment, has the potential for enhancing the development of responsibility. 14 references.