A distinctive juvenile justice system has existed in Australia for a little less than 100 years. The current children's courts are recognizable as the descendants of those established almost a century ago, and the measures available to them have not changed very much. There are still training schools, although less use is made of them than in the past; their regimes are less rigorous, and the terms of detention are comparatively short. Emphasis is still placed on variants of probation. One innovation has been semi-custodial measures, which require periodic attendance at centers where work and educational activities are conducted. Overall, the courts and their supporting services are not innovative. Innovation is occurring in the development of informal responses to juvenile offending. These responses aim to involve offenders, their families, victims, and community members in procedures that may involve reparation and the restoration of social harmony. The dangerous juvenile offender continues to pose troubling problems for the juvenile justice system. The current aim is to incorporate responses to such offenders within the children's court structure. 11 notes, 15 references, and appended list of the names, addresses, and phone numbers of key agencies