NCJ Number
49495
Journal
Deviance et societe Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 187-202
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE SCOPE AND IMPACT OF DISCRIMINATORY AND UNJUST APPROACHES TO DEFINING, JUDGING, AND CORRECTING FEMALE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IN CANADA ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
CANADIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STATISTICS ARE USED TO UNDERSCORE A PERVASIVE DICHOTOMY IN THE HANDLING OF VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT FEMALE JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN CANADA. THE STATISTICS INDICATE THAT WHILE GIRLS ARE ARRESTED, PROSECUTED, AND CONVICTED MORE OFTEN THAN BOYS FOR NONVIOLENT AND STATUS-TYPE OFFENSES (E.G., SEXUAL ACTIVITY, TRUANCY, RUNNING AWAY), THOSE ARRESTED AND CONVICTED OF GENERALLY VIOLENT OFFENSES ARE INVARIABLY PUNISHED LESS OFTEN AND LESS SEVERELY THAN BOYS COMMITTING SIMILAR OFFENSES. IT IS ARGUED THAT SOCIETY'S PERCEPTION OF THE FEMALE ROLE UNDERLIES BOTH CONDITIONS. SOCIETY EXPECTS WOMEN TO BE CHASTE AND UNAGGRESSIVE AND THIS LEADS TO DISPROPORTIONATELY HARSH PROSECUTIONS AND CONVICTIONS FOR ACTIVITIES UNCHALLENGED IN MALES AND TO LOW LEVELS OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCING FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES BELIEVED TO BE MORE PROPERLY THE DOMAIN OF BOYS. THUS, FEMALE JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN CANADA ARE OFTEN PURSUED AND PUNISHED FOR WHAT ARE ESSENTIALLY NONCRIMES AND ARE LESS OFTEN CONVICTED AND PUNISHED FOR COMMITTING CRIMES THAT ARE INHERENTLY VIOLENT OR 'CRIMINAL' IN NATURE. IT IS ARGUED THAT 'DIFFICULT' GIRLS ARE INCARCERATED TO PROTECT THEM FROM THEMSELVES, WHILE 'CRIMINAL' GIRLS ARE DIVERTED TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE DESPOILING ELEMENTS OF AN INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT. --IN FRENCH. (KBL)