The first chapter examines the strengths and weaknesses of various national data bases on juvenile justice and considers what they reveal about the juvenile crime problem; the need for research on juvenile delinquency prevention is also featured. A chapter on juvenile gangs examines how and why gangs form, the changes in gang composition over the years, and strategies to address the gang problem. Following a chapter that addresses diversion from the juvenile justice system, two chapters probe various scenarios for the future of the juvenile court. A chapter on new and emerging roles for prosecutors in the juvenile justice system is followed by one that addresses the growing interest in interconnections among juvenile justice, child welfare, and children's mental health services. Two chapters examine the costs and benefits of various State and local youth detention and incarceration policies, as well as issues that pertain to race, gender, and ethnicity in juvenile justice policies. Remaining chapters consider the private sector in juvenile corrections, juvenile crime-fighting policies, and a national juvenile justice agenda. 8 tables, 8 figures, chapter references, and a subject index