In California, juveniles found guilty of committing a criminal offense by the juvenile court can receive dispositions ranging from 'home on probation' to commitment to the Youth Authority for an indeterminate term. In disposition, treatment needs are considered primary and community protection secondary. In practice, juveniles who have committed serious crimes usually are given longer terms of treatment and hence, confinement. Principal treatment forms are school, vocational training, and work experience. It is noted that treatment program designs are arbitrary and that the design of the California juvenile justice system errs in not basing disposition policy on the concepts of deserts, incapacitation, and deterrence. In a concluding section, the primer outlines sentencing reforms, including the development of prescriptive guidelines; presents illustrative juvenile sentencing guidelines; recommends treatment program reforms; and advocates the establishment of a continuing juvenile justice commission to develop guidelines, monitor program evaluation efforts, and propose reforms.