The juvenile justice system is a multifaceted entity that continually changes under the influence of decisions, policies, and laws. The all new Third Edition of Juvenile Justice: A Social, Historical, and Legal Perspective, offers readers a clear and comprehensive look at exactly what it is and how it works. Reader friendly and up-to-date, this text unravels the complexities of the juvenile justice system by exploring the history, theory, and components of the juvenile justice process and how they relate. Key Features Provides current research on juvenile justice operations and effectiveness, including the most recent data available on juvenile arrest trends. Covers a wide range of topics including the relationship between social context, delinquency, and juvenile justice, efforts to deal with violent offenders, and practical and ethical issues faced by practitioners. Offers a Comparative Focus, allowing readers to understand specific practices in the U.S. compared to other countries such as Japan and New Zealand. Accomplished authors have over 40 years combined experience working in the juvenile justice system and teaching related courses.