Too often professionals in public policy or criminal justice must scramble to find additional reading on juvenile law and justice or on juvenile delinquency topics because most references and textbooks provide inadequate coverage of many issues of importance. The Handbook of Juvenile Justice: Theory and Practice responds to this need by providing comprehensive coverage of this important field of study.Resulting from lengthy analysis by the editors about what are identified as the most pressing issues in the field, this volume contains contributions from recognized experts, many of whom are published with the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. These authors deliver a balanced representation of theoretical, research, policy, and legal materials associated with the juvenile justice system. The book presents both historical and modern accounts of critical issues, and includes a policy approach to issues of delinquency, status offense, treatment, punishment, special populations, and early intervention programs. This text is ideal as a resource for professionals studying juvenile justice and its impact on public policy.