Chapter 1 discusses fear of the young, concern about immigrants, gender bias, and racial and class antagonism that have all dominated the evolution of juvenile justice; also explored is how the media and politicians exploit these prejudices and fears for their own purposes. Chapter 2 explores data sources available on juvenile offending. Chapter 3 traces the history of the juvenile justice system in the United States in relation to significant population migrations, rapid urbanization, race conflicts, and transformations in the economy. Chapter 4 investigates the major variation among the States and even within States with regard to the structure and operation of the juvenile justice system. Chapter 5 documents the disproportionate presence of children of color at every stage of the juvenile process. Chapter 6 analyzes young females who enter the juvenile justice system and gender-responsive programs and policies that are urgently needed. Chapter 7 explores efforts to prevent juvenile delinquency. Chapter 8 examines the successful experiences of States such as Massachusetts, Missouri, and others that have shown the elements of effective juvenile justice interventions. Chapter 9 investigates the juvenile justice dollars and where they are spent. Chapter 10 documents historic extreme and harsh punishments and questions the appropriateness of punishment strategies for reforming the juvenile justice system. Tables, figures, references, and index