In the Fourth Edition of Juvenile Delinquency in a Diverse Society, authors Kristin A. Bates and Richelle S. Swan take a critical approach to juvenile delinquency in the context of real communities and social policies, focusing on the issues of race, class, and gender. True stories and real-world examples allow students to gain a critical understanding of juvenile delinquency and the juvenile justice system, encouraging them to explore how theories of delinquency can be used to create new policies and programs in their own communities.