LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN DEALING WITH VIOLENT OR HARD-CORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE EXAMINED. A REVIEW OF THE EXISTING LITERATURE IS PRESENTED WHICH FOCUSES ON WHETHER THERE ARE STATUTORY PROVISIONS IN OTHER STATES REGARDING THE DEFINITION OF VIOLENT OR HARD-CORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND WHETHER SEPARATE PROGRAMS OR FACILITIES FOR VIOLENT JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE MORE OR LESS SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHER TYPES OF DISPOSITIONS. THE REPORT EVALUATES THE VARIOUS DEFINITIONS OF VIOLENT OR HARD-CORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE CONCEPT OF THIS TYPE OF JUVENILE OFFENDER IN MINNESOTA. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY LIMITATIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGISLATION DEALING WITH VIOLENT OR HARD-CORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS, OFFENSES USED IN VARIOUS DEFINITIONS OF HARD-CORE OR VIOLENT JUVENILES, SEVERITY SCALE-JUVENILE OFFENSES, ESTIMATING PROCEDURES, A SOURCE BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND A LEGAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).