AFTER DECREASING TO A LOW OF 49.3 PERCENT IN 1976, THE PERCENTAGE OF COMMITMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE JUVENILE COURT INCREASED TO 55.5 PERCENT IN 1977. AS OF 1977, ETHNIC MINORITIES CONSTITUTED 61 PERCENT OF ALL ADMISSIONS, COMPARED TO 45 PERCENT IN 1970. VIOLENT OFFENSES REPRESENT 41 PERCENT OF ALL COMMITMENTS IN 1977, AS COMPARED TO 21 PERCENT IN 1970. THE USE OR POSSESSION OF WEAPONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OFFENSES HAS INCREASED STEADILY SINCE 1970, STABILIZING AT ABOUT 38 PERCENT. THE USE OR POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENSE ALSO HAS INCREASED STEADILY, FROM 9 PERCENT IN 1970 TO 30 PERCENT IN 1977. ALMOST HALF OF ALL FIRST COMMITMENTS HAVE DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL. TWO-THIRDS OF THE WARDS WHO WERE IN THE JOB MARKET WERE UNEMPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENSE. MOST WARDS WERE LIVING IN THE PARENTAL HOME AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENSE. ABOUT HALF CAME FROM TWO-PARENT HOMES. OVER ONE-HALF OF THE WARDS HAD FAMILY MEMBERS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS. NEGATIVE PEER GROUP INFLUENCE HAS BEEN BY FAR THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE ADJUSTMENT OF YOUTHS COMMITTED TO THE AUTHORITY. TABULAR DATA AND A NARRATIVE SUMMARY OF CHARACTERISTICS ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)