The study cases derive from police files, personal experiences, and newspaper accounts; they illustrate a variety of laws and types of juvenile treatment as well as the most common juvenile offenses. Among these are theft, vandalism, glue sniffing, breaking curfew, disorderly conduct, loitering, housebreaking, and trespassing. Although chapters can be taught as independent units, their topical suequence follows a logical order. The first chapters focus on the nature of laws and their use by police officers. Subsequent chapters treat the handling of cases after initial arrest, when the probation officer assumes the role of court representative. Later chapters deal with the final case disposition. The final chapters contain evaluation materials to assess students' knowledge and attitudes. Each chapter includes activities, worksheets, and role-playing and decisionmaking exercises. Statutes and interpretations (based on California law) are presented in a way that increases familiarity with the language and content of the law; illustrations and charts are included. For teachers, there is an introduction on ways to use the cases, and suggestions for discussion at the end of each chapter.