This book investigates the structural, social, and institutional frameworks governing juvenile justice within the Australian legal system. Authors Christopher Cunneen and Rob White, both established scholars in criminology and sociology, utilize a critical lens to examine how youth crime is defined, processed, and managed by state agencies. The text argues that current administrative approaches often fail to address the underlying socioeconomic drivers of delinquency, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between youth, crime, and the state.

Experts and academics frequently cite this work as a foundational introductory text for students of criminology and social policy in Australia. Readers often note the balance between accessible descriptive prose and the critical theoretical framework provided by the authors.