Criticism of the juvenile justice system centers upon the fundamental issue as to whether the juvenile justice process is rehabilitative or inherently damaging. According to the 'labeling theory,' formally processed juveniles may acquire both a private self-concept and public reputation that endangers their reintegration into the community. Contemporary alternative programs include police diversion programs, alternatives to court intake, alternatives to detention programs, and alternatives to post-adjudication institutionalization. Types of programs that have developed within these categories are described. Research into the effectiveness of these alternative programs reveals that (1) a number have succeeded in providing services which achieve post-treatment recidivism rates as low as or lower than those achieved by the formal system, (2) reduction in the numbers of youths treated in the justice system rather than by alternative programs has been achieved in some but not all of the studies for which data are available, and (3) inquiry is seldom made into the degree to which less tangible goals are realized; i.e., greater reliance upon voluntary participation and lesser degrees of coercion. The future of alternative programs may require better understanding of such enduring issues as the unintended consequences of alternative programs, the determining of appropriate criteria for alternative programs, and residents' willingness to support community-based programs. Appendixes include a juvenile diversion score sheet, policies and guidelines for intake workers, and standards relating to the juvenile probation function. Seventy references are provided.