NCJ Number
240446
Date Published
May 2009
Length
94 pages
Annotation
This report presents an overview of Illinois data on individual, family, and school risk factors for both delinquent girls and girls at risk of delinquent behavior.
Abstract
Regarding individual risk factors for girls in Illinois between 2001 and 2006, girls were more likely than boys to abuse alcohol, inhalants, and prescription drugs, and teens giving birth decreased by 10 percent in Illinois from 2001 to 2006. Illinois girls were more likely than boys to have a sexually transmitted disease. Regarding family risk factors, girls were more likely than boys to be victims of neglect as well as physical and sexual abuse. An examination of school risk factor for girls found that although the number of school truancies and suspensions increased among girls, the number of girls who dropped out of high school decreased; however, for academic years 2002 to 2007, both truancies and suspensions of girls increased 47 percent. This report also provides information on protective factors, which are those factors that provide support and guidance for youth. Limited research suggests that caring adults, fair teachers, academic aspirations, and religion are factors that may help girls be resilient in mitigating the influence of risk factors for delinquency. Illinois girls' arrests, admissions to detention, and commitment to corrections were more likely to be for less serious offenses compared to boys. Gender discrepancies were present at all stages of the Illinois juvenile justice system. Other comparative data for girls and boys in Illinois address arrests, detention, corrections, person offenses, sex offenses, weapons offenses, and drug offenses. Data also cover non-compliance with the juvenile justice system, juvenile-specific offenses, and other juvenile offenses. The disproportionate representation of girls in the Illinois juvenile justice system is also noted. Gender-specific programming for girls in the Illinois juvenile justice system is reviewed. Numerous tables and figures and 54 notes