NCJ Number
183683
Date Published
1998
Length
296 pages
Annotation
This volume examines female juvenile delinquency in terms of the relevance of classical theories of delinquency; the nature, extent, and trends in female delinquency; female delinquency in the context of social roles, gender socialization, and females’ life experiences; and issues delinquent females experience within the justice system.
Abstract
The discussion reviews historical data and contemporary studies and concludes that mainstream theories and approaches often are ineffective with female juveniles. The analysis also presents the findings of 10 detailed interviews with delinquent females who share their experiences in the justice system. The text also focuses on females in gangs, drug and alcohol use by females, drug-addicted babies, the impact of the newest legislation, and the relative success of alternatives to institutionalization. The analysis notes that most delinquency is trivial, the differences between the deviance of males and females are not pronounced, discussions of delinquency that focus on serious violent tend to exaggerate gender differences because males are more likely to commit these offenses. The data also suggest that female delinquency has changed little in the past two decades. The extensive theoretical and programmatic focus on disadvantaged males and their problems has mean that young females’ victimization and its relationship to female delinquency has been systematically ignored, as has the central role of the juvenile justice system in the sexualization of female delinquency and the criminalization of females’ survival strategy. Findings indicate the need for many policy and program changes. Tables, name and subject indexes, and approximately 650 references