This engaging, student-friendly text takes a critical look at juvenile delinquency today. Authors Kristin Bates and Richelle Swan examine the phenomenon of juvenile delinquency in the context of real communities and social policies, integrating into the text the many social factors that shape juvenile delinquency and its control (including race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality). Offering a thorough mix of traditional and cutting-edge theories, research, and practices, this text helps students develop critical thinking skills and answer many of the difficult questions on juvenile delinquency that they will face in their careers and lives. KEY FEATURES: --An electronic version of this text is available for free when purchased with the printed edition. Contact your sales representative for more details. --Coverage of diversity is woven throughout the book in text, photos, and exercises to reflect the realities of contemporary juvenile delinquency. --The text substantively links theories of delinquency, not only to existing public policies, but, to existing community programs --In the News... features in each chapter highlight interesting news stories and current events related to the topic at hand. --From the Classroom to the Community boxes in each chapter highlight individual and community activitism related to delinquency and juvenile justice, connecting theory to real-life opportunities that make an impact in the community. --A Focus on Research boxes in each chapter present particularly interesting research studies linked to chapter topics. --Questions for Discussion are included in special interest boxes to help students think critically about the topics and issues presented. --Eye on Diversity exercises in each chapter help students explore issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, or ability as related to the chapter topic, and then apply them to real-life policy decisions. --Opening vignettes offer engaging context for key topics that are later analyzed in each chapter. Publisher's note.