After reading this chapter, you should be able to

• Describe the nature and extent of family trends, including marriage, divorce, and unmarried birth rates
• Explain the complicated relationship between family structure and delinquency
• Explain the impact of family process on the relationship between family structure and delinquency
• Explain the impact of family process on delinquency
• Explain the nature and extent of child maltreatment
• Analyze the complicated relationship between child maltreatment and delinquency
• Explain the relationship among child maltreatment, parental incarceration, and the experiences in foster care for youth