NCJ Number
213560
Date Published
August 2004
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article examines trends and explanations for adolescent female violence.
Abstract
Due in part to media sensationalism of violent crimes committed by girls, there has been increased public attention to the problem of violence among girls. Arrest trend analysis for juveniles indicated that while the arrest rate for boys actually declined between 1992 and 2003, arrest rates for girls increased, particularly arrests for violent offenses. Girls were also being referred to juvenile courts by police and other sources and were being held in juvenile detention in greater numbers than ever before. However, the author points out that there is reason to be skeptical of statistics that claim girls are becoming more violent. The author also points out that girls involved with the juvenile justice system have often been victimized themselves, and at a much greater rate than male juvenile delinquents. Three main forces are likely at work as the causes of increased female delinquency: (1) relabeling, which re-defines criminal offenses, making some offenses more serious than they previously were; (2) rediscovery, which entails the understanding that girls have always been more violent than the stereotype of the weak, passive girl; and (3) “upcriming,” which refers to policies that increase the severity of criminal penalties associated with particular offenses. Prevention strategies should focus on advocating for better responses to domestic violence and child abuse and should challenge media images that sensationalize girls’ violence. Table, references