The phenomenon of juvenile delinquency is surveyed in an examination of the scope of delinquency; legal and social aspects of the problem; definitions of delinquency and delinquents; amount, distribution, and measurement of delinquency; changing patterns of delinquency; and delinquency from a situational perspective. Although various explanations for delinquency exist, adequate theories must address two basic problems: (1) What elements of social organization or social structure are responsible for the rates and patterns that are observed? and (2) What factors result in delinquency for some youngsters and nondelinquency for others? One other important element to consider is the criminalization process in delinquency -- how a juvenile or act becomes officially defined as delinquent and the statutes which are enacted designating certain acts as delinquent. Subsequent chapters discuss delinquency and the social structure; social situations and interactions and their relationship to delinquency; delinquent occasions or social circumstances in which delinquent acts are typically performed; and juvenile-status offenses, including sex offenses, running away, and truancy. Additional elements of the problem are examined in discussions of juvenile property crimes; drugs and alcohol offenses; delinquent gangs; and police-juvenile encounters. A chapter on the juvenile justice system presents a brief history of the development of juvenile justice and discusses the assumption of guilt and the absence of due process, the juvenile court process, and probation decisions. Juvenile probation and incarceration are examined, along with new directions in delinquency control such as educational programs, gang intervention, and diversion. Specific applications of diversion are highlighted. A final chapter addresses sociological theory and delinquency programs and the use of sociological methods in evaluation research on delinquency. Emphasis is placed on the significance of theory, both as an abstract explanatory tool and as a foundation for developing programs to deal with delinquency. Chapter notes, tables, photographs, an index, and an appendix providing a self-report survey instrument are included.