The tragedy of Littleton, Colorado, where two high school students killed a number of their classmates and a teacher, before killing themselves, is the most deadly of a string of recent school shootings. Unlike any similar event, it has sparked a national dialogue on violent youth crime. How can it be prevented? Who is responsible for youth crime ? families, schools, the entertainment industry, the juvenile justice system? Once juveniles commit criminal offenses, what should society do to rehabilitate and reintegrate them while protecting the lives and property of those around them? Congress is currently considering a juvenile justice bill, introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch, that promises states funding in exchange for enacting harsher juvenile sentencing laws, requires the creation of a national database for juvenile offenders, and mandates the U.S. Sentencing Commission to develop juvenile sentencing guidelines. The national focus on juvenile crime caused FSR to turn its attention to juvenile sentencing. This Issue show cases a number of approaches ? state and international?to the sentencing of juveniles. It also presents several thought-provoking pieces on how to structure juvenile guidelines, should they become part of the new Commission's agenda.