This important work educates individuals working within the youth justice system of the usefulness-and-limitations-of psychological assessments in the processing of youthful offenders. The authors favor a child welfare and rehabilitative approach, but they argue that the use of valid assessments can improve the quality and consistency of judgments and inferences made about youths in any system by improving the quality of the information used. The book closes with extensive recommendations and appendices listing instruments, procedures, and resources.