Serious juvenile offenders are usually chronic offenders. The available research shows that a small number of chronic serious offenders commit a high percentage of serious crimes and that a large percentage of these youths become adult offenders. Serious offenders also appear to represent a larger proportion of our total youth population now than they did 20 years ago, and they come into court earlier with more serious crimes than their counterparts did in the past. Frequent family characteristics of these offenders include emotional deprivation, child abuse, drug abuse, mental illness, criminality, teenage pregnancy, and poverty. Both short-term and long-term efforts are needed to address all the issues involved. The juvenile justice system should clarify its own objectives and differentiate its responses depending on the seriousness and frequency of offending. In addition, to prevent future juvenile delinquency, a comprehensive policy is needed to meet the full range of children's needs from before birth through adolescence. Footnotes