An ancient Danish proverb posits that an old error has more friends than a new truth. It is a recurring theme in this collection of scholarly articles, each of which analyzes how gender-related stereotypes and practices have negatively influenced law enforcement, courts, and correctional facilities in their treatment of women and girls. Based principally on psychological research, the book not only chronicles how outdated attitudes and practices cause unnecessary harm, but also explains how science, training, and intervention can lead to better outcomes. It is a worthwhile book that lawyers, judges, and court administrators should find useful in addressing gender-based biases and challenges in the justice system.

Edited by two prominent academic psychologists, the book discusses the countless ways in which “gender intersects with race, class, and sexual orientation” to affect “the legal status and well-being of women and girls in the justice system.”

Organized into eleven chapters, the book examines women and girls in various settings, including family court, domestic violence disputes, sex trafficking, drug treatment courts, incarceration, and juvenile detention. Moreover, several enlightening chapters are devoted to trans-women, LGBT youth, and Mexican women in the U.S. justice system.