TODAY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS THAT WERE NON-EXISTENT ONLY A CENTURY AGO WHEN MINORS REPRESENTED LITTLE MORE THAN A CHEAP SOURCE OF LABOR. IN RECENT YEARS, FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS AND LEGISLATIVE BODIES HAVE CLARIFIED AND EXTENDED NUMEROUS LAWS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS HANDBOOK PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THESE RIGHTS, INCLUDING THOSE RIGHTS ENJOYED BY CHILDREN ONLY AND THOSE RIGHTS, RECENTLY GIVEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE, WHICH USED TO BE IN THE EXCLUSIVE POSSESSION OF ADULTS. AMONG THE TOPICS COVERED ARE AGE OF MAJORITY, MEDICAL CARE AND CONTRACEPTION, WORK AND CONTRACTS, STATUS OFFENSES, POLICE AND PRETRIAL PROCEDURES, AND JUVENILE COURTS. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE RIGHTS CONCERNING POST-TRIAL DISPOSITIONS, CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, ACCESS TO COURTS, AND SUCH ACTIVITIES AS MARRIAGE, HITCHHIKING, VOTING, AND LOITERING. A STATE-BY-STATE LISTING OF THE LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS ALSO INCLUDED....DMC