THIS COMPACT TEXT IS INTENDED NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS BUT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN CORRECTIONAL WORK, IN PROBATION, PAROLE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHILE PROVIDING A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM, SPECIAL EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE ROLE OF THE COURT AND ON PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVELY TESTED AND DEMONSTRATED. THE EXTENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND FAMILIAL FACTORS WHICH MAY CAUSE DELINQUENCY ARE REVIEWED IN THE INITIAL CHAPTERS. SPECIFIC PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DELINQUENCY ARE DISCUSSED, AND A PARTICULAR MANIFESTATION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY - THE JUVENILE GANG - IS EXAMINED. FINALLY, THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AT EACH STAGE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS IS EXPLORED. THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN PREVENTING AND TREATING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS DISCUSSED IN THE FINAL CHAPTER.