NCJ Number
110234
Date Published
1988
Length
151 pages
Annotation
This analysis of gender bias in the juvenile system in Great Britain concludes that gender bias is complex, sometimes operating in favor of females and sometimes against them.
Abstract
The analysis focused on two stages in juvenile processing: the police cautioning stage and the juvenile court stage. Data came from 200 males and 199 females in a major coastal city and a nearby industrial town. Half the cases were referrals to the police consultative panels and half were juvenile court cases. Data collection began in 1980 and ended in 1982. Gender comparisons of panel and court decisions were made, controlling for variables relating to offending patterns. Findings did not support the research hypotheses that gender is a significant factor in juvenile justice decisionmaking in that females are treated more leniently than males and that male and female juveniles differ significantly in offense patterns. The findings clearly refuted the common assumption that a 'chivalrous' approach to female influences the judicial process. Data tables, literature review, appended study instruments, index, and 194 references.