This book investigates the systemic failures of the United States juvenile court system and argues for its abolition in favor of an integrated criminal justice model. Barry C. Feld, a professor of law, utilizes extensive historical analysis and empirical data regarding sentencing patterns to demonstrate how the current dual-track system fails to provide either effective rehabilitation or consistent procedural justice. He proposes a framework where youth offenders are processed through the adult criminal justice system, albeit with specific modifications designed to account for developmental differences in younger defendants.

Experts in the field of criminology frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the structural contradictions within American juvenile law. Readers often note the academic density of the prose and the rigorous reliance on legal history to support the author's controversial policy recommendations.