THE NATURE OF DELINQUENCY, THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO ULTIMATELY ENTER THE FORMALIZED PROCESSES OF JUVENILE JUSTICE ARE CONSIDERED. EXPLANATIONS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR ARE EXAMINED, WITH THREE PRIMARY SETS OF THEORIES ABOUT THE CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY--THE LABELLING PERSPECTIVE, INDIVIDUAL-ORIENTED VIEWPOINT, AND COMMUNITY-ORIENTED CRIMINOLOGY--DISCUSSED AS BEING FUNDAMENTAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE DIVERGENT AND CONFLICTING PROGRAMS AND ORIENTATIONS PREVALENT IN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS. HISTORICAL REASONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS ARE REVIEWED; ALSO EXPLORED IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH CONFLICTING GOALS AND PROGRAMS ARE INFLUENCED BY SUCH INCOMPATIBLE VALUES AND IDEOLOGIES AS PROTECTING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, ACHIEVING SOCIAL PROTECTION, AND PROMOTING THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD. THERE IS A DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF THE ACTORS AND PROCESSES THAT DIVERT YOUTH FROM OR PULL THEM INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. FIVE PROCESSES OR 'STAGES' OF THE SYSTEM ARE CONSIDERED IN TURN: IDENTIFICATION, POLICE DECISIONMAKING, DETENTION, JUVENILE COURT PHILOSOPHY AND PROCEDURES, AND DISPOSITIONS. THROUGHOUT THESE DISCUSSIONS, ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE AT EACH STAGE, THE NATURE OF COMMUNITY ACTORS INVOLVED, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUTH WHO ARE OR WHO ARE NOT MADE A PART OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SUBSYSTEM. REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)