Contrary to the common view, the overwhelming majority of violent crimes are not committed by persons under age 18. In addition, the most serious violent offenses are the least likely to be committed by juvenile offenders. Although violent juvenile crime increased substantially during the 1960's and early 1970's, the best evidence indicates that it has stabilized and may even have declined in the past few years. Most juvenile crime is committed by males against other young males. The elderly are the least likely age group to be victimized by juveniles, but crimes involving the elderly seem to be somewhat more serious. Scholars generally agree that the quality of the parent-child relationship, not the number of parents in the household, is related to juvenile violence. Drug abuse is probably linked to economically rewarding crime, but not directly to criminal acts of violence. Although the use of alcohol can be a direct stimulus to violent behavior in some cases, the relationship between alcohol abuse and violent juvenile crime is still unclear. Notes and 66 references.