This paper reviews the literature on the secondary prevention of delinquency, examining the commonalities that characterize successful programs. The first part reviews standard approaches to secondary prevention of delinquency, such as diversion of responsibility for delinquents from the juvenile justice system to family, school and community-based systems. While most of these diversion programs have not substantially reduced subsequent arrests, successful community-based activity programs are also cited. Other strategies reviewed include educational and vocational training and family-based interventions. The message emerging from this review is that broad-based interventions and settings with multiple purposes and opportunities appear to consistently yield the best results because they provide numerous opportunities for adolescents to develop positive self-concepts and behavior patterns in a variety of contexts. Forty-eight references are included. (TE)