The historical, philosophical and international background to criminal justice responses to juveniles; the meaning of rights and welfare approaches; examination of other models of juvenile justice; the nature and extent of juvenile involvement in crime, including gender dimension through the separate consideration of adolescent girls; the practice of diverting juveniles from prosecution; the rights and treatment of juveniles in contact with the police and detained and questioned in the police station; the Youth Court and sentencing options, practices, issues, reforms and developments.