The cycle begins when juvenile crime is thought to be unusually high, but the large number of harsh punishments and small number of lenient treatments forces officials between inaction and harsh punishment. In the next phase, both harsh punishment and doing nothing are thought to increase juvenile crime. Next, lenient treatments are introduced for juvenile offenders, creating a middle ground between harsh punishments and inaction. Finally, the lenient treatments are blamed for juvenile crime, and they decline as harsh punishments gradually expand. Several U.S. Supreme Court decisions form the basis for current juvenile justice policy. However, these decisions have not been implemented, and current practice is based on the views of those who favor strict punishment. Attitude and policy changes could break this cycle, but they are unlikely. Nevertheless, juvenile delinquency is a modern phenomenon that emerged in response to changes in larger society; continuing societal change will eventually bring an end to juvenile delinquency. Notes and index