The traditional parens patriae premise of juvenile courts has been undermined and the credibility of these courts has declined. Likely results are abolition or "criminalization" of juvenile courts or their subsumption into family courts with broad mandates. The latter result is more promising if the juvenile court is reconceptualized as a court for "bankrupt families" and focuses on juvenile crime as merely one of several areas of responsibility. A coherent theoretical framework for juvenile court jurisdiction is suggested, the evolving juvenile justice mandate is discussed, and social trends affecting the work of the juvenile justice system are noted. Appendixes provide further information on subjects of interest to family and juvenile courts, juvenile court transfer provisions, and family court status in the United States. 72 references and 2 figures