The sample of chronic (four or more juvenile court adjudications) and minor (one appearance only in juvenile court) was compared for 13 offenses using such variables as family involvement and structure, peer involvement, school involvement, previous offenses, and offender perceptions of court sanctions and their relation to certain crimes. The sample was drawn from a 1966 birth cohort of 17-year-olds in a major western metropolitan area. At the end of their delinquent careers, just prior to age 18, the two groups were compared using the National Youth Survey to identify factors that distinguished one-time offenders from multiple offenders, youth with only one felony offense, and youth with at least four felony adjudications. Data showed that the group with only one court involvement was distinguished from the chronic offender group by greater school involvement and friends who were less involved with drugs. All chronic juvenile offenders experienced secure confinement, less involvement in school, and more drug use. However, for more than 30 measures of fear of apprehension and punishment, chronic and minor offender groups differed minimally. Study data did not clearly demonstrate that punishment prevents juvenile delinquency. 50 references, 4 tables. (Author abstract modified)