This book explores international and historical evidence on how societies regulate criminal behaviour by young people and asks whether young people should be treated as responsible moral and legal agents in the youth justice system. 'This text makes a valuable contribution to contemporary youth justice with its thoroughgoing analysis of a much neglected issue. Arthur offers an informed, insightful and welcome exposition of the moral foundations of responses to youth offending; one that supplements and extrapolates the existing literature.' Stephen Case, Professor of Criminology in the Department of Social Sciences, Loughborough University, UK