NCJ Number
181366
Date Published
1998
Length
24 pages
Annotation
A study of juvenile court intervention for female juvenile delinquents in San Francisco produced findings consistent with previous studies and revealed that female juveniles were more likely than males to be detained and committed to residential programs for less-serious offenses and that their particular emotional needs are often unmet.
Abstract
Female adolescents are more likely than males to be victims of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse. These experiences can produce distinct forms of emotional expressions of low self-esteem, as revealed in a higher number of suicide attempts, higher amounts of eating disorders, and other psychological problems. This background often correlates highly with involvement in delinquency and status offenses. Female adolescents also have their own problems related to oncoming adult sex-role stereotypes and are uniquely affected by pregnancy, rape, prostitution, incest, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and AIDS infection, mothering, and drug addiction. Interviews with 10 females in detention at San Francisco Juvenile Hall revealed emotions of loss, sadness, and disappointments; experiences of victimization, perpetrating violence, selling drugs, or being a prostitute; and hopes and dreams of a better life. They had many complaints about out-of-home placements, some related to adolescent rebelliousness and others related to institutional rigidity and staff favoritism. Findings suggested the need to reduce the overcrowding at Juvenile Hall, regional and local assessments of resource allocations to gender-specific programs, improved data collection regarding gender and race/ethnicity, a national study of effective female-specific programs, systematic evaluation of all programs and placements, more local out-of-home placement programs designed for teenage females, and other actions. Note and 27 references