This book explores the policies, procedures, and programs in the field of juvenile justice that are being implemented in communities across the country. The book is also designed to help young people understand their role in the justice system and their rights as an individual. The author explores the justice system from two perspectives; the first, discussed in Part 1, involves the criminal law and what happens when kids find themselves in trouble with the law. The three chapters in this section focus on defining criminal laws, explaining the basic rights of juveniles, and discussing rights and laws pertaining to emancipation. The second perspective, explored by the author in Part 2, is the civil law, which handles matters such as divorce and custody, education, and employment issues. The three chapters in this section explore issues related to family law and issues surrounding the security and support rights of juveniles. Throughout the book, the author illustrates important points through the use of a real-life narrative and hypothetical case study. In the discussion of both criminal and civil law, the author raises legal questions and concerns that face communities across the country. Part 3 of the book looks toward the future of juvenile justice as the author presents profound issues confronting the justice system. Communities across the country are dealing with emerging questions regarding the policies, procedures, and even the entire ideology of the juvenile justice system. The first chapter in this section looks at recent trends in juvenile justice, such as the increasing practice of charging juveniles as adults. The other two chapters in this section explore issues related to community-level implications of juvenile justice and alternatives to mainstream juvenile justice programs. The appendix discusses the role of the Federal Government in juvenile law. A glossary of terms is also provided.