Book excerpt: Juvenile Justice: Policies, Programs and Practices provides a student-friendly introduction to the juvenile justice system in the United States. This text reviews recent changes to the law and the juvenile justice system and includes an expanded discussion of the most pressing issues in juvenile justice today. Full of practical, real-world information, this book "sets the record straight" on issues of juvenile justice, clarifying common misinformation and misperceptions. Students will learn about the juvenile justice system as a social institution; its programs, policies, and practices; and possible careers in juvenile justice.