While the rates of serious violent juvenile crime have remained stable for the last 10 years, support for severe punishment of chronic and violent offenders has increased. However, research on admissions to detention facilities and training school indicates that State variations in punishment are not necessarily linked to youth crime rates or Federal funds intended to change incarceration policies. The media do not accurately portray juvenile crime, but emphasize violent crime and ignore property crime, status offenses, and public order offenses which constitute most delinquent acts. Initiatives begun in the late 1960's and 1970's which focused on deinstitutionalization, diversion, decriminalization, prevention, and restitution should be evaluated. Studies have documented positive effects from some programs, such as declining arrests of status offenders and decreasing juvenile arrests. Public opinion diverges widely from fact, still viewing delinquency as increasing and the juvenile court as too lenient. The public supports rehabilitation, but sees solutions to preventing serious crime and treating the status offender as occurring outside the justice system. Many programs emphasizing natural community settings as opposed to institutions have not been adequately tested or have demonstrated their effectiveness and should be expanded. Graphs and one reference are included.