Author Description

The evolution and development of the American juvenile justice system are distilled into an engaging survey in this timely new edition. In clear, authoritative language, the text explores the social, legal, historical, and political ramifications of administering justice to American youth. The authors draw upon their extensive backgrounds in the field to provide a cogent framework for organizing their discussion—one that skillfully blends theory, research, and practical applications. Throughout the text, boxed features address international perspectives on contemporary juvenile justice issues, as well as discussions of the theoretical explanations of crime and delinquency. The authors incorporate numerous data sources to provide a balanced presentation of juvenile justice statistics, their multiple interpretations, and the trends they indicate. Moreover, they include well-researched material that often is overlooked in other texts, including up-to-date discussions of parole/aftercare and nondelinquent children. A comprehensive chapter on juvenile gangs illustrates how theory informs research, and research in turn informs policy and practice. The latest prevention and intervention strategies are covered in a chapter that explores these goals from both philosophical and practical perspectives. Students will appreciate the extensive glossary, while instructors will find that the thought-provoking critical review questions in each chapter lend themselves to in-class discussions or out-of-class assignments. Chapter features include summaries, critical review questions, recommended readings, key terms, and notes.