This third edition of Youth Gangs represents a significant updating of many of the chapters from the previous two editions. However, it has eliminated the separate chapter on typologies of youth gangs with some sections of the chapter merged with the chapter that covers classical theories of youth gangs (Chapter 8). The 11 chapters include: Chapter 1, “Contemporary American Youth Gangs”; Chapter 2 “Youth Gang Violence”; Chapter 3, “Race, Ethnicity, and Contemporary Youth Gangs”; Chapter 4, “Female Gang Members and Female Gangs”; Chapter 5, “Gangs in Western History”; Chapter 6, “Youth Street Gangs in Other Cultures”; Chapter 7, “Pieces of the Puzzle: Typologies and Classical Theories of Youth Gangs”; Chapter 8, “Theoretical Propositions About Youth Gangs”; Chapter 9, “Legislative and Justice System Interventions: Incapacitation and Deterrence”; Chapter 10, “Prevention and Assistance Programs: Education, Employment, Opportunity and Empowerment”; and Chapter 11, “The Future of Youth Gangs.” The book is intended to be an overview yet in-depth discussion of issues of importance to social scientists such as race/ethnicity, gender, and violence in gangs. The book is comprehensive since it continues to offer its own theory of youth gangs and deals with the history of youth gangs as well as gangs in other cultures. It is unique in that it offers perspectives on youth gangs historically and cross-culturally while addressing the topic from a sound and comprehensive sociological framework. The book incorporates many important journal contributions to the study of youth gangs written since the last edition, as well as major books and government reports. Youth Gangs is written for a variety of audiences and is viewed as a sound scholarly contribution to the literature on youth gangs. Information boxes, references, and name and subject index