The book is written for the student beginning to develop an interest in the juvenile area of the criminal justice system. This fourth edition revised and rearranged for student understanding, is divided into 3 major sections and 14 chapters. Part 1 presents the history of juvenile justice. It examines the handling of juveniles by justice systems from ancient times up to the present. Part 2 is an extensive coverage of the entire juvenile justice process. It examines the parts of the juvenile justice system that are both similar to and different from the adult criminal justice. Part 3 considers the future of juvenile justice. The text is based on a specific model emphasizing concise chapters that logically build upon each other. Special features of this edition include: (1) coverage of both the practical and theoretical elements of the juvenile justice system and process; (2) current literature and research, including timely materials available on the World Wide Web; (3) important information that appears in boxes through the text that present current issues and concepts; (4) a list of “terms to remember” and “review questions” at the end of each chapter, highlighting the important concepts; and (5) an instructor’s manual that contains chapter outlines and questions for tests and quizzes. Figures, tables, notes, and index