Each year in the United States, approximately 2 million youth become involved either informally or formally with the juvenile justice system. This legal system for young people is complex, with laws and policies, sentencing guidelines, treatment and rehabilitation programs, and facilities that vary enormously depending on the circumstances. In fact, the legal definition of a juvenile differs by state and has changed over time.

What are the landmark cases, laws, and philosophies that guide the juvenile court as it exists today? What theories help explain the factors that reduce or increase risk for youths becoming pulled into the juvenile justice system? Does the juvenile justice system works as intended to treat, rehabilitate, and educate youth? What are the effects of the system while youth are in custody and after they are released? How is the juvenile system different than the adult criminal justice system? Are there any evidence-based solutions to address the challenges of age of jurisdiction and transfer, the school-to-prison pipeline, and racial and ethnic disparities? This book tackles all these questions in coverage that blends historical and topical overviews, personal essays, primary sources, a glossary of terms, and an annotated bibliography of sources for further study.