IT IS ARGUED THAT SINCE IT IS A LABEL FOR MANY DIFFERENT ACTS AND CONDITIONS, 'JUVENILE DELINQUENCY' IS TOO IMPRECISE A TERM TO CONVEY CLEAR MEANING. MUCH OF WHAT IS LABELED DELINQUENCY IS CONDUCT THAT ARISES OUT OF THE CONFLICT OF CHILDREN WITH OLDER PERSONS, WHEN THAT CONDUCT IS SUBJECT TO THE LABELING AND SANCTIONING OF SOCIAL AGENCIES CHARGED WITH ITS SUPPRESSION. DELINQUENCY CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD APART FROM THE SOCIAL CONFLICTS OF WHICH IT IS PART, THE MOST RELEVANT BEING THOSE RISING ALONG THE LINES OF GENERATION, SEX, RACE, AND CLASS. DELINQUENCY AND ORGANIZED DELINQUENCY CONTROL ARE INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED SINCE SOCIAL POLICIES NOT ONLY DEVELOP IN RESPONSE TO PERCEIVED DELINQUENCY, BUT DELINQUENCY DEVELOPS IN RESPONSE TO SOCIAL POLICIES. DELINQUENCY CONTROL PROGRAMS TYPICALLY EMBODY CONTRADICTORY MANDATES THAT INHIBIT THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ANY PARTICULAR OBJECTIVE AND ARE INEFFECTIVE IN REDUCING DELINQUENCY RATES. THE REMEDIES OF DELINQUENCY CAN COME FROM A MORE HONEST ADJUDICATION OF THIS INTERGENERATIONAL CONFLICT, RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS TO YOUNG PERSONS, AND THE PROMOTION OF THE INTEGRATION OF YOUNG PERSONS INTO THE WIDER COMMUNITY. A 16-PAGE LIST OF REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)