The most recent juvenile cases are used to illustrate the legal bases for decisions about juveniles; and the history of juvenile courts is reviewed, including crucial events that have influenced the course of juvenile justice. Current case law on imposing the death penalty as a punishment for juveniles is examined, and several juvenile death penalty cases are described. Delinquency is defined and measured according to several popular indexes, such as the Uniform Crime Reports and the National Crime Victimization Survey. The major components of the juvenile justice system are also featured, including law enforcement, prosecution and the courts, and corrections. Corrections is presented in a broad context, with each correctional component described. Correctional strategies that range from diversion to incarceration are featured, together with a discussion of the favorable and unfavorable dimensions of such programs. Community-based correctional programs are assessed, along with probation and parole. The book's features include a glossary, key terms at chapter ends, and review questions that highlight chapter contents.