AN OPENING DISCUSSION OF THE HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS FOLLOWED BY A CHAPTER ON DEFINITIONS OF DELINQUENCY, THE DIFFICULTIES IN ARRIVING AT SUCH DEFINITIONS, AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR PRACTITIONERS. OTHER CHAPTERS DEAL WITH THE SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF FAMILY TIES, SOCIAL CLASS, EDUCATION, AND OTHER FACTORS FOR PRACTITIONERS; THEORIES OF CAUSATION; THE SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF JUVENILE COURT ACTS (INCLUDING A COMPARISON OF THE UNIFORM JUVENILE COURT ACT AND JUVENILE CODES ENACTED BY A NUMBER OF STATES); AND THE PROCEDURES REQUIRED BY THESE STATUTES. THE FUNCTIONS, TRAINING, COMPETENCE, AND DISCRETIONARY POWERS OF PERSONNEL AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM -- POLICE, PROSECUTORS, JUDGES, PROBATION OFFICERS, ETC. -- ARE EXAMINED. AGENCIES THAT RELATE FUNCTIONALLY TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM (E.G., SCHOOLS, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS) ARE CONSIDERED. CHAPTERS ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND DISPOSITIONAL ALTERNATIVES (PROBATION, FOSTER HOMES, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS) INCLUDE CRITIQUES THAT RELATE PROGRAM SUCCESSES AND FAILURES TO CAUSATION THEORIES AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM PHILOSOPHY. THE TEXT CLOSES WITH A SUMMARY OF THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG THEORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND PROCEDURE, AND COMMENTS ON THE STATUS AND FUTURE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. COPIES OF THE UNIFORM JUVENILE COURT ACT AND OF LANDMARK DECISIONS BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ARE APPENDED. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. FOR AN INSTRUCTOR'S RESOURCE MANUAL KEYED TO THE TEXT, SEE NCJ-49454. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)