Three major theories support parental accountability laws. The first theory is that such laws are necessary to further the juvenile justice system's goals of rehabilitating children and deterring future delinquent behavior. The second theory is that parental accountability laws are demanded by our societal norms. These norms recognize the importance of parental leadership and dignity but also require that "bad" parents be sanctioned for their parenting lapses. The third theory holds that courts can play a positive role by supporting parental authority and by imposing sanctions on children who engage in negative behavior. This theory is an important underpinning to status offender laws that help parents control disobedient children who refuse to conform their behavior to rules established by parents and society. The various roles of parents in the juvenile justice process are listed, including as passive observers of the process, parties to the process, patients or clients in need of help or services, aides to the child's treatment and rehabilitation, and as active participants in the process. A general description of parental accountability laws in the various States is provided, along with categories of such accountability laws. These categories are court involvement laws, parenting improvement laws, and parental sanctions-focused laws. Audience questions and discussion are summarized.