The first four revolutions consisted of the adoption of the concept of parens patriae, the 1967 Gault decision holding that juveniles are entitled to due process of law, the conclusion that juvenile rehabilitation is impossible and that incapacitation should be the overriding goal, and Federal intervention requiring separation of juvenile status offenders from juvenile delinquents and the separation of juvenile and adult offenders. The fifth and current revolution rests on the politics of fear and emphasizes increased capacitation. A sixth revolution may be in the making, based on the work of Osborne and Gaebler, the Vice President's view of reinventing government, and Deming's ideas about total quality management. The first five revolutions have resulted partly from the failure of leadership by juvenile justice managers. However, TQM can succeed only if top management is committed to the concept, works to institutionalize it operationally, and trains staff to make it work. Although TQM clearly should be implemented throughout juvenile justice administration, it is not clear whether this can happen. However, an incremental development is a distinct possibility. Nevertheless, the concepts of TQM and reinventing government will have little impact on juvenile justice unless influential groups and Federal agencies with available funds push for their implementation. 24 references