Authors Meda Chesney-Lind and Randall G. Shelden include the relevance of classic theories of delinquency to female juveniles: an impressive amount of historical data and numerous contemporary studies to show that, often, mainstream theories and approaches don't work with female juveniles: and ten in-depth interviews with delinquent girls who share their experiences in the criminal justice system. In addition to greater theoretical development, this edition has been updated with a separate chapter on girls in gangs: important new statistics: and more information on the use of drugs and alcohol, drug-addicted babies, the impact of the newest legislation, and the relative success of alternative programs to incarceration.