The first chapter introduces the concept of delinquency and the difficulties in defining and measuring delinquency. It also discusses the extent of delinquency by critically examining three sources of data: police statistics, victimization surveys, and self-reported studies. The correlates of delinquency are also discussed: gender, age, race, social class, family, and school. Chapter 2 discusses the experiences of black youth in a negative environment, beginning with a brief history of blacks in the United States from slavery to the civil rights movement. It also addresses social indicators such as education, employment, poverty, politics, and life expectancy and how these indicators affect black youth. Chapter 3 examines the nature and extent of delinquency among black youth, and Chapter 4 provides a brief overview of traditional theoretical explanations of delinquency, followed by explanations that have been used to understand delinquency among black youth. Remaining chapters focus on the differential treatment of black youth by law enforcement officers; the treatment of black youth in adult courts; detention, intake, and adjudication; the institutionalization of black youth; community-based corrections; prevention programs; and current and future attempts to deal with delinquency among black youths. 704 references and a subject index