Judges, probation officers, prosecutors and defense lawyers around the country warn that the juvenile court system has been overwhelmed by the increase in violent teen-age crime and the breakdown of the family. Judges and politicians are debating abolishing the system and trying most minors as adults.

In Chicago -- where juvenile courts were first created, beginning in 1899 -- judges in juvenile courts hear over 60 cases a day -- about six minutes per case.

• There are 3,000 juvenile courts in the U.S.

• Of the 1,555,200 delinquency cases referred to prosecutors by police in 1994, 855,200 resulted in what in adult courts would be called indictments -- of which 495,000 defendants were found guilty.

• That 1.55 million figure is almost four times the number of cases handled in 1960.

• The proportion of juveniles arrested who are prosecuted in court climbed to 55 percent in 1994 -- compared to 45 percent in 1985.

• But the percentage of young people who are convicted has not kept pace -- rising to 33 percent in 1994 from 31 percent in 1985.

Experts say that every time a juvenile is sent back to court, his likelihood of being arrested again increases until recidivism rates reach 75 percent by the fifth appearance.

Between 1960 and 1994, the number of cases involving abused or neglected children -- which are also handled by juvenile courts -- has accelerated five times faster than the quadrupling of delinquency cases, experts report. The abused and neglected children are often the very ones who become delinquents.

Among delinquency cases, violent crimes are rising the fastest. From 1985 to 1994, juvenile crimes involving weapons soared 156 percent, murders jumped 144 percent and aggravated assaults were up 134 percent. Property crimes were up 25 percent.

Source: Fox Butterfield, "With Juvenile Courts in Chaos, Critics Propose Their Demise," New York Times, July 21, 1997.