Explores the history of teen crime and explains what various groups are doing to combat the problem.

This thought-provoking book in the Issues in Focus series points out that juvenile crime has become a major American crisis: ""the number of juveniles arrested for homicide between 1983 and 1992 increased 128 percent, as opposed to the 9 percent increase among the adult population."" Margolis explores the history of such crime in America, how the laws have changed over time, and how some communities are attempting to reduce crime and to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents. There is an interesting discussion as to whether youthful offenders should be tried as adults, with the right to a jury trial and the possibility of harsher punishment.