The data indicate that petty misconduct is widespread, but serious delinquency is much less common. While slightly more working youths than high school students admitted to delinquent acts, considerably more of them were processed by the police. The higher rate of police contact seemed only partly due to more frequent involvement in delinquency, reflecting discretionary and selective actions on the part of control agencies as well. Differential handling of juvenile offenders is also examined, as are causal factors in delinquency. 4 tables, 3 references. (Author abstract modified)