Adolescent Female Offender: A Probation Officer's Perspective (From Working With Young Women in the Juvenile Justice System, P 27-31, 1987 -- See NCJ-109539)

• NCJ Number: 109544
• Author(s): C Salicru
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-109539.

Annotation

A California probation officer discusses her perspective of female juvenile delinquents and the juvenile justice system's response to their needs.

Abstract

A review of the number and offenses of female delinquents who went through the San Francisco juvenile court system in 1984 indicates that a relatively small percentage of females committed offenses, and most of the offenses were status offenses, shoplifting, or minor infractions. Probation officers are uncomfortable working with female probationers because they have not committed serious offenses, and they present multiple problems, many of which they conceal because they are rooted in family problems they are reluctant to discuss, often sexual abuse. The probation officer is usually expected to supervise the probationer within the family context, even though the family environment may be abusive. Probation officers receive no training in the particular problems of female delinquents, and the system in general has failed to analyze the needs of female delinquents and develop programs and services to meet them.