IN RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, CONGRESS ENACTED THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974. THIS ACT CREATED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, A UNIFIED NATIONAL PROGRAM TO DEAL WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND CONTROL. THE ACT SET IN MOTION A MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION (LEAA). THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT CREATED WITHIN LEAA THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND, WITHIN THAT OFFICE, A RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND INFORMATION ARM CALLED THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. THE REPORT OUTLINES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SINCE ITS CREATION AND REPORTS ON THE ENTIRE FEDERAL EFFORT IN DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND JUVENILE JUSTICE. AFTER DESCRIBING THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, THE REPORT OUTLINES THE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OF THIS OFFICE WITH RESPECT TO CONCENTRATION AND COORDINATION OF FEDERAL DELINQUENCY CONTROL EFFORTS; ADMINISTRATION OF FORMULA BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES TO ASSIST THEM IN PLANNING, OPERATING, AND EVALUATING JUVENILE PROJECTS; ADMINISTRATION OF DISCRETIONARY GRANTS; AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ARE DESCRIBED AS WELL. AN ANALYSIS OF THE FEDERAL JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ROLE IS THEN PRESENTED. A PROFILE OF THE CURRENT FEDERAL EFFORT IS GIVEN, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON FEDERAL SPENDING, FUNDING SOURCES, AND THE AGENCIES ADMINISTERING DELINQUENCYRELATED PROGRAMS. THE ASSUMPTIONS IN CURRENT FEDERAL DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE WAY THESE ASSUMPTIONS RELATE TO PRIORITIES AND SPENDING PATTERNS ARE EXPLORED. THE FINDINGS OF A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EVALUATIONS OF FEDERALLY OPERATED OR ASSISTED JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ARE SUMMARIZED AS WELL. FINALLY, THIS REPORT DISCUSSES FEDERAL INFORMATION NEEDS AND PLANS TO MEET THEM. A MAJOR GOAL IS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN EVALUATIVE INFORMATION AND PLANNING DECISIONS FOR THE FUTURE. SUMMARY INFORMATION ON 117 FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE A BEARING ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CONTROL OR JUVENILE JUSTICE IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIXES TO THIS REPORT, WHICH HAVE BEEN PRINTED AS VOLUME II. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)