A historical overview explains the 19th-century origins of the juvenile justice systems, the goals and actual operation of the early children's courts, and developments through the 1960's. The increasing doubts that led to the reassessment, in the 1970's of the purpose and capabilities of the children's courts and the reforms that emerged from this reassessment are also detailed. The discussion notes that the changed perspective of the 1970's led to a search both for informal alternatives to these courts and an increased emphasis on features similar to those of adult criminal courts. Current juvenile codes and juvenile justice practice are described including police procedures, informal responses such as police cautions, juvenile court procedures, correctional alternatives, and the handling of serious juvenile offenders. Descriptions of juvenile codes and proceedings in Australia's six States, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory are also included. Footnotes, appended tables and background information, index, and 243 references