Race and community characteristics have separate and combined effects on the processing of juvenile delinquency cases in communities that vary in racial and cultural composition and in the extent of urbanization. Juvenile justice research is reviewed to examine the generalizability of research findings in previous studies of race disparities in juvenile justice processing. Community influences on the handling of juvenile offenders are compared in terms of juvenile justice system operation across three rural communities and an urban area. The knowledge base on juvenile justice system treatment of Native Americans is expanded with regard to the differential treatment of Native Americans and with regard to juvenile justice philosophy and the "constitutionalization" of the juvenile justice process. Implications of the community context for the juvenile justice system's treatment of Native youth are considered. 149 references and 34 notes