The articles in this collection survey four major areas: theories of female criminality, literature on female juvenile delinquents, women as offenders, and women in prison. The focus is on two central questions: How does gender matter in crime and the justice system? What characterizes women's and girls' pathway to crime? In answering these key queries, the contributors reveal the complex worlds females in the criminal justice system must often negotiate -- worlds that are frequently riddled with violence, victimization, discrimination, and economic marginalization.