Under Italian law, the legal age of responsibility, i.e., when individuals are capable of understanding and acting of their own volition, is 14 years. For offenders between 14 and 18 years old, verification of the capacity to understand is required, and sentences may be reduced because of individuals' immaturity. Decisions about maturity for this group are made by the judge with or without expert advice. Individuals over 18 years old are considered criminally responsible for their actions. Since 1956, juvenile courts have been empowered to hear criminal, civil, and administrative cases (e.g., cases of juveniles displaying irregularities of character or behavior). Juveniles may be placed under social worker supervision or in a reeducational institution or psychiatric facility. Every juvenile must first undergo a personality investigation and evaluation by expert social workers or institutional therapists. Treatment is intended to be individualized and progressive. In practice, the age of complete legal responsibility (18 years old) can be extended for very immature individuals, as penal sanctions for antisocial acts due to immaturity only aggravate the situation. Treatment should also depend on the individual rather than on an absolute age limit. Private organizations provide a wide variety of preventive measures such as protection for mothers and children, security measures for dangerous individuals, postrelease assistance, and psychiatric care. A reorganization of preventive services is planned; laws of 1975 and 1977 have already decentralized administrative functions, by transferring program planning and social services to regional and local governments. The reform seeks to improve therapeutic potential, to facilitate social intervention, and to eliminate overspecialized responsibilities. A brief bibliography is supplied.