THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF THE DELINQUENT CHILD AND ITS CHANGING IMAGE ARE EXAMINED TOGETHER WITH THE MOST POPULAR THEORIES OF DELINQUENCY CAUSATION. A DISCUSSION OF THE FAMILY AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CONSIDERS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGIAL VARIABLES INTERACTING IN THE CONTEXT OF EARLY LEARNING. A SECTION DEALING WITH ADOLESCENCE FOCUSES ON THE FACT THAT THE DELINQUENT IS AN ADOLESCENT FIRST AND A DELINQUENT SECOND. THE WIDE RANGE OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR TYPICAL OF ADOLESCENCE IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF THE FEMALE DELINQUENT ARE EXPLORED, INCLUDEING THE CHANGES IN FEMALE CRIME ACCOMPANYING THE CHANGES IN WOMEN'S ROLES IN SOCIETY. THE RISE IN CRIMES COMMITTED BY FEMALES MAY ALSO BE A FUNCTION OF MORE EQUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICIES THAN WERE FOUND IN THE PAST. THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM -- THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE INTAKE DIVISION OF THE JUVENILE COURT, AND THE JUVENILE COURT ITSELF -- ARE EXAMINED IN DETAIL, TOGETHER WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF JUVENILES CLARIFIED BY FOUR U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS AND SEVERAL RELATED STATE COURT DECISIONS. ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION ARE PRESENTED. A COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL, AND THE INPUT NECESSARY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF SUCH A FACILITY IS DISCUSSED. A CHAPTER ON DELINQUENCY PREVENTION THROUGH CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT EMPHASIZES THE NECESSITY OF COOPERATION BY RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR SATISFACTORY PROGRAM RESULTS. THE PROBLEMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. AN INDEX AND AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)