This authoritative, highly readable reference and text is grounded in the latest knowledge on how antisocial and criminal behavior develops in youth and how it can effectively be treated. Contributors describe proven ways to reduce juvenile delinquency by targeting specific risk factors and strengthening young people's personal, family, and community resources. Thorough yet concise, the book reviews exemplary programs and discusses theoretical, empirical, and practical issues in assessment and intervention. It also provides best-practice recommendations for working with special populations: violent offenders; gang members; sexual offenders; youth with mental health, substance abuse, educational, and learning problems; and female offenders. The Table of Contents includes an Introduction by Nancy G. Guerra, Robert D. Hoge, and Paul Boxer, and the following chapters: (1) A Portrait of Juvenile Offending in the United States (Kirk R. Williams, Louis Tuthill, and Shoon Lio); (2) Theoretical and Research Advances in Understanding the Causes of Juvenile Offending (Nancy G. Guerra, Kirk R. Williams, Patrick H. Tolan, and Kathryn L. Modecki); (3) Assessment in Juvenile Justice Systems (Robert D. Hoge); (4) What Works: Best Practices with Juvenile Offenders (Nancy G. Guerra, Tia E. Kim, and Paul Boxer); (5) Implementing Treatment Programs in Community and Institutional Settings (Nancy G. Guerra and Caren Leaf); (6) How Policy Affects Practice in the Treatment of Juvenile Offenders: The California Experience (Elizabeth Siggins and Amy Seidlitz); (7) Treatment of Violent Offenders (Paul Boxer and Paul J. Frick); (8) Treating Gang Involved Offenders (Robert Nash Parker, Todd D. Negola, Rudy Haapanen, Larry Miranda, and Emily K. Asencio); (9) Juvenile Sexual Offending: An Evidence-Based Approach to Assessment and Intervention (Gary O'Reilly and Clodagh Ann Dowling); (10) Mental Health and Substance Abuse (Bonita M. Veysey); (11) Juvenile Offenders with Special Education Needs(Carolyn R. Eggleston); (12) The Female Juvenile Offender (Robert D. Hoge and Lynda Robertson); and (13) Epilogue (Robert D. Hoge, Nancy G. Guerra, and Paul Boxer). The book includes an index.