Delinquent girls : contexts, relationships, and adaptation synthesizes what is known about girls involved in delinquent behavior and their experiences at different points in the juvenile justice system.This breakthrough volume adds to the understanding of this population by offering empirical analysis not only of how these behaviors develop but also about what is being done to intervene. Employing multiple theoretical models, qualitative and quantitative data sources, law enforcement records, and insights across disciplines, leading scholars review causes and correlates, the roles of family and peers; psychological and legal issues, policy changes resulting in more arrests of young women; and evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies.Each chapter covers its subject in depth, providing theory, findings, and future directions.