The first section of the text describes the evolution of the juvenile justice system from its historical and philosophical routes in the United States in the 20th century. The second section describes young people and how they grow and develop; the influence of family, school, and community; and major classifications of young people with whom the juvenile justice system interacts (youth who are victims, those who break the law and who victimize, and those who belong to gangs). The third section takes a close look at the contemporary juvenile justice and its three major components--law enforcement, juvenile/family courts, and juvenile corrections. This section also places the juvenile justice system within its larger context, the community, and examines the role of that larger community. The fourth and final section goes from the theoretical to everyday practices and programs being conducted in the juvenile justice system. This section includes current approaches to prevention and treatment, as well as an examination of juvenile justice innovations in several other countries. The text concludes with a discussion of the need to rethink juvenile justice system and how it may look and function in the 21st century. Each chapter contains a summary and discussion questions. Appendixes contain information on influences on delinquency, a job description of a police-school liaison officer, a list of federally funded programs, information on school and community programs, and recommendations of the Metropolitan Court Judges Committee. References, tables, figures, and photographs