NCJ Number
87894
Date Published
1982
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The National Female Advocacy Project provides a unique model for advocacy on behalf of young women affected by the juvenile justice system, because it is the Nation's only federally funded project focusing entirely on this subject.
Abstract
The project was developed by New Directions for Young Women, an organization in Tucson, Ariz., which worked successfully to reduce the detention of female status offenders in Pima County (Arizona). New Directions, led by women who had been active in the feminist movement, used the Federal grant to intensify its advocacy programs in Arizona and in the added demonstration State of Oregon and to expand advocacy efforts nationally. The project's goals are to produce changes to overcome service gaps or discriminatory treatment of young women in laws, the institutional practices of criminal justice and other agencies, and in specific programs offered by agencies which serve youths. The project uses two basic approaches: the education of relevant groups about the issues affecting the lives of young females and the mobilization of concerned individuals and groups to press for needed changes in the juvenile justice, social service, and educational systems. The project works initially with natural allies and tries to persuade them to place the problems of young female offenders on their action agendas. Nationally, the project cooperates with other groups and provides information, literature, and training. Intensive work in Arizona and Oregon has focused on factfinding, monitoring proposed legislation, and working to build coalitions of like-minded groups. Despite some setbacks and the prospect of further difficulties resulting from the policies of the Reagan Administration, the project's designers are determined to build a lasting movement for young women. Eight notes which include references are provided.