CONCERNING THE LABELING, DETENTION, AND TREATMENT OF YOUNG FEMALE OFFENDERS - A SENSIBLE APPROACH TO FEMALE DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 68751
• Author(s): P R ANDERSON; G W NOBLIT
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 153 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY DEMONSTRATES THAT COED JUVENILE DETENTION IS ILLOGICAL, AND THAT FEMALES SHOULD NOT BE DETAINED IN JUVENILE COURT FACILITIES.

Abstract

AFTER AN IN DEPTH REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE, TWO DETENTION HOMES UTILIZING THE COEDUCATIONAL MODEL ARE EXAMINED. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THEY FAIL TO PROVIDE A CLIMATE THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO THE REHABILITATION OF THEIR CLIENTS. A DATA ANALYSIS DEMONSTRATES THAT CHIDREN REFERRED TO THE COURT ARE BECOMING MORE 'DEPENDENT' AND LESS 'DELINQUENT.' THIS PHENOMENON IS SUPPORTED BY THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FEMALE REFERRALS OF A NONDELINQUENT NATURE TO DETENTION FACILITIES. A STUDY OF 53 INMATES ILLUSTRATES THAT FEMALE DETAINEES SEE THEMSELVES, AND ARE SEEN BY OTHERS, AS NONCRIMINAL, AS HAVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND AS NOT BEING UNDERSTOOD BY PARENTAL AUTHORITY FIGURES. A MENTAL HEALTH MODEL FOR ADDRESSING MALE DELINQUENCY, ITSELF HISTORICALLY UNSUCCESSFUL AND INADEQUATE, HAS BEEN ARBITRARILY IMPOSED ON FEMALE PROBLEM CHILDREN SOCIALLY DEFINED AS DELINQUENT. ALTERNATIVES TO FEMALE JUVENILE DETENTION WOULD INCLUDE (1) A FORMAL MORATORIUM ON THE DETENTION AND INCARCERATION OF FEMALE OFFENDERS EXCLUDING ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED SERIOUS OFFENSES; AND (2) THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY LIFE SERVICES ORGANIZATION AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR ALL NONSERIOUS DELINQUENTS, WHICH WOULD REPLACE THE JUVENILE COURTS AND UTILIZE THE COURT'S COUNSELORS AND VOLUNTEERS. OVER 80 REFERENCES, FOOTNOTES, AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED.