THE TEXT IS BASED ON EXISTING AND HISTORIC LAW, PUBLISHED LITERATURE, INTERVIEWS WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS, CONVERSATIONS WITH DELINQUENT CHILDREN, ORAL QUESTIONS AND WRITTEN TERM PAPERS FROM THE AUTHOR'S STUDENTS, AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS AN ATTORNEY AND PROSECUTOR FOR MANY DELINQUENT CHILDREN. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DEFINED AS A SOCIOLEGAL PROCESS HAVING RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY FOR PUBLIC REACTION TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND DETERRENCE OF FURTHER JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS ARE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENTS AND AGENCIES, LAWS, RULES, AND POLICIES PERTINENT TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. THE CONCEPT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ENCOMPASSES VIOLATIONS OF CRIMINAL LAWS OR ORDINANCES, AS WELL AS STATUS OFFENSES SUCH AS HABITUAL TRUANCY, INCORIGIBILITY, IMMORAL CONDUCT, AND CURFEW VIOLATIONS. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES INVOLVE POLICE, COURTS, CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES, YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS, DRUG ABUSE COUNSELORS, AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS. CHAPTERS IN THE BOOK DEAL WITH THE HISTORY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, A FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM PHILOSOPHY AND DESIGN, SYSTEM OPERATIONS, AND SYSTEM EFFECTS. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE SYSTEM ARE NOTED, AND WAYS OF SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS ARE SUGGESTED. FIGURES ILLUSTRATE SUBSYSTEMS OF THE OVERALL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)