The first two chapters examine delinquency issues about which there is disagreement among criminologists: the seriousness of the problem of crime and delinquency, who is largely responsible for the present level of crime and delinquency, and how crime and delinquency can be controlled and reduced. An examination of public perceptions of crime and delinquency is based in the authors' belief that public attitudes are a fundamental part of the juvenile and criminal justice systems, although public attitudes have often been misunderstood by criminal justice policymakers. Separate chapters on various juvenile delinquency factors focus on the family, the school, and peer influences. The criminological theories of delinquency discussed are biological theories, psychological theories, anomie theories, social control theory, and labeling theory. A review of the origins of the juvenile court considers its early and contemporary history and recent developments. An analysis of the contemporary juvenile court addresses jurisdiction, waiver to adult courts, detention, intake, dispositions, and public access to proceedings and records. Other issues analyzed are juvenile diversion, juvenile corrections, the failure of ideology and policy, status offenses, age of accountability, and children's rights. Chapter summaries, discussion questions, glossary, subject index, and chapter references.