Filling a tremendous gap in criminological literature, Girls, Delinquency, and Juvenile Justice focuses on the special problems delinquent girls face within our criminal justice system ... and exposes the system's failed attempts to apply male-oriented theories to the delinquency of females. 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 second edition has been thoroughly 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. A volume in the Wadsworth Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Series.