In Italy, the juvenile justice system has taken overcoming custody as an exclusive means of re-socialization. It articulates criminal response into treatment measures, modulates on personal features of the offender, and avoids any custodial option. The juvenile is not seen as an object of protection, but as being entitled to certain rights, particularly the right to normal psychosocial growth. The system is based on four guidelines. The first is the specialization and diversification of justice bodies. The second is the strong educational emphasis put on each stage of the proceeding. The third is the mitigation of segregating measures. And the fourth is the diversion and quick exit from the criminal system. There are two reasons to qualify criminal response toward juveniles as a residual solution: limiting the unavoidable labeling effects, and facing the need of individualizing criminal response. 41 footnotes, 25 references