The research was a continuation of a 1989 longitudinal study. The most important finding of these studies was that 60 percent of the male juveniles referred to family court did not go on to become adult offenders. This finding adds credence to the wisdom of a family court system. The results revealed that within 11 years of adult eligibility, 33 percent of the youths had become part of South Carolina's adult probation or prison system and an additional 7 percent were in the prison or probation systems of other States. Those who successfully avoided prison or probation were most likely to be white, in a normal school setting and two- parent home, and were referred only once or twice without penetrating the juvenile justice system to the point of adjudication or institutionalization. Eighty-two percent of males incarcerated as juveniles became part of the prison or probation systems of South Carolina or other States. Findings provide a framework for targeted prevention and diversion efforts and for a fiscally based argument for improved services and additional funding for the juvenile justice system. Footnotes, tables, and appended figure and tables