NCJ Number
204968
Date Published
2004
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This chapter examines the trend in Canada and other countries toward restrictive welfare and punitive justice policies that increase the vulnerability of girls to violence, especially if they live in a low-income community.
Abstract
In Western European and North American countries from the 1960s until the 1990s, the social policies developed improved opportunities for girls and women to receive modest social and housing assistance. Access to higher education and health care increased significantly. Minimum wages and employment standards improved. There were minimal gains, however, in public support for quality child, home, or elder care. At the turn of the 21st century, Canadian citizens continue to have access to publicly governed and funded primary education as well as medical services; however, there is minimal support for public quality childcare. Moreover, other progressive trends are being systematically reversed, such that the number of girls vulnerable to violence because of disadvantaged communities has increased. Regarding youth justice policies, the rates and numbers of Canadian and American youths convicted and sentenced to custody have increased significantly in the last 20 years. Besides the increase in longer sentences and custody rates for convicted girls, status-like offenses have re-emerged. These are breaches of restrictions imposed by youth justice officials, including curfew, treatment, community-service requirements, and other conditions of a probation order. It is time to reverse the policies that have focused on punishing bad behavior while restricting the use of public resources to help relieve the socioeconomic conditions that have contributed to violence and other antisocial behavior. Public policy must emerge from research that identifies the conditions that must be corrected in order to promote positive behavior among youth. 82 references