Results from this study support the idea that racial disparities exist in youth who enter the juvenile justice system and how youth move through the system. In congruence with most prior research, for the youth in this study, race had some effect on the chances of having had a prior mental health diagnosis. African-Americans are less likely to have a previously diagnosed mental disorder. They are also less likely to have been treated for a mental disorder. Following the results on prior diagnosis and treatment, African-American youth are less likely than Caucasians to receive any mental health services. Attitude and behavior problems have the greatest effects on likelihood of receiving a mental health service order. Recommended treatments for conduct disorder include family therapy, behavior modification, and pharmacotherapy. Substance abuse problems increase the odds of a treatment order. Race did not seem to have an influence on how legal factors affected court orders for mental health treatment. Data were collected from a statewide assessment system on African-American and Caucasian status offenders and delinquents formally processed in one Missouri circuit over a 1-year period. Tables and references