The function of Japan's family court is that of a social service agency, not a criminal court. Rather than imposing sentences as for adult offenders, the family court selects the most suitable treatment strategy for a juvenile delinquent. All offenders under 20 years old are classified as juveniles. The 53 juvenile classification homes serve the family courts by diagnosing juveniles' problems and recommending the most suitable treatment for the family court. Juveniles may be detained in a classification home when either the offense is serious, the juvenile has severe personality problems, or family circumstances prohibit return to the family home. The length of stay in a classification home is normally 14 days, but this period may be renewed for a maximum of another 14 days by a family court ruling. This article describes the Chiba Juvenile Classification Home as representative of such homes. 2 figures, 1 table.