The first of its kind to integrate theory and “real-world” application in juvenile delinquency, this extensively researched text addresses today's most current developments and issues, with probing examinations of: 1) the extent, nature, and origins of American juvenile delinquency; 2) the factors in contemporary life that generate or influence delinquency; and 3) the juvenile justice process and methods for controlling, treating, and preventing delinquency.