The text asserts that juveniles today are not committing more crimes but that some youths are committing more serious crimes than 10 years ago. It illustrates how juveniles are processed through the system at each key decision point -- arrest, intake, petition, adjudication, disposition, and aftercare -- and discusses two major Supreme Court decisions that expanded juveniles' rights -- Kent v. United States (1966) and In re Gault (1967). A discussion of juvenile court intervention alternatives covers past practices and current emphases on treatment, including group homes and other community-based alternatives. The booklet includes a glossary of juvenile justice terms, footnotes, a suggested reading list, and a resource list.