Section A: Youth misbehaviour: its nature, extent, related risk factors and explanations. 1. Introduction and terminology overview -- 2. A historical perspective of the youth offender -- 3. The nature and extent of child and youth misbehaviour in South Africa -- 4. Risk factors pertaining to youth offenders -- 5. The socio-moral redirection of troubled youth -- 6. Traditional theoretical explanations for youth misbehaviour -- 7. Contemporary theoretical explanation for youth misbehaviour -- 8. A historical overview of approaches to understanding female youth misbehaviour -- 9. Contemporary South African perspectives on young female offending: dismantling risk, rethinking vulnerability -- Section B: Youth in contact with criminal justice. 10. The prevention and control of youth misbehaviour in South Africa -- 11. Diversion -- 12. Juvenile offenders in South African criminal law -- 13. The child justice act: practice and procedure -- Section C: Contemporary challenges pertaining to youth at risk. 14. Child trafficking in South Africa -- 15. Child prostitution -- 16. Concluding thoughts.