DATA TABLES ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE A DISCUSSION OF THE ARREST TRENDS AND INCIDENCE OF SPECIFIC OFFENSES ACCORDING TO THE AGE, SEX, AND RACE OF THE OFFENDER. AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE REACTION OF AMERICANS TO DELINQUENT YOUTH IS ALSO PROVIDED. THEORIES OF DELINQUENCY CAUSATION ARE REVIEWED, AND DIVERSE TYPES OF DELINQUENCY SUCH AS VANDALISM, DRUG USE, GANG DELINQUENCY, AND MIDDLE CLASS DELINQUENCY ARE DISCUSSED. A SERIES OF CHAPTERS ARE DEVOTED TO THE AGENCIES THAT GENERALLY PROCESS AND SERVE THE DELINQUENT. IN THIS CONTEXT, THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE EFFECT OF SEVERAL U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS REGARDING DELINQUENCY AND REVIEWS CURRENT EVALUATIONS OF THE PRACTICES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC