The child welfare system is broken, and no one seems to know how to fix it. Except for the increasing number of scandals in the news, the public knows little about the system, which is hidden from public scrutiny, allegedly to protect children. Meanwhile, the number of children being propelled into the welfare system is increasing at an alarming rate, and more than 25 state child welfare systems are being sued in federal court for abusive and neglectful practices. A careful examination of the child welfare system is long overdue. This book explores the sources of the problems in the...

The year 1999 marks the 100^{th anniversary of the juvenile court. At the time of its creation, the juvenile court was heralded as one of the greatest advancements in the cause for children. While few will argue with the fact that the juvenile court has been a constructive force in promoting the welfare of children, the court has also been the subject of ongoing and increasingly sever criticism. The problems and abuses that plagued the juvenile court eventually reached the United States Supreme Court, whose decisions transformed the juvenile court from a social welfare institution into...}