This engaging textbook encourages students to think critically about the causes of delinquency and possible solutions and to make certain that arguments are grounded in facts not myth. The author provides a solid link between the history of juvenile delinquency and contemporary juvenile issues. Unique to this book is a chapter on social inequality, an essential topic for understanding delinquency and crime. The special problems of girls growing up in a patriarchal society and their experiences in the juvenile justice system are discussed thoroughly in two chapters and throughout the text. Statistics and theory are balanced by descriptions of the everyday realities encountered by juveniles. Delinquency is considered in the context of family, community, school, peers, social class, and culture. Prevention and diversion are twin themes, with particular attention to whether current practices are effective. Thoughtful discussions of racial and socioeconomic inequality, media sensationalism, and zero tolerance provide insight into issues students might have accepted without question. Not-for-sale instructor resource material available to college and university faculty only; contact publisher directly.