NCJ Number
186048
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This analysis of violence committed by female children and adolescents emphasizes the findings of literature reviews conducted by Meda Chesney-Lind and her associates and focuses on the extent of female juvenile delinquency and violence, the ways these delinquency patterns differ from those of males, contributing factors, and prevention.
Abstract
Federal and other statistics and self-report surveys demonstrate that females are much less likely than males to be arrested. However, females appear to be involved in substantially more violent crime than they were a decade ago. These figures need to be interpreted cautiously. Females differ in the nature and methods used; they are more likely than males to use knives than guns and to murder someone as a result of conflict rather than during a crime. They were also more likely than males to murder a family member. Risk factors for young females’ violence and aggression include abuse and victimization, school failure, and gang involvement. Programs serving young violent women effectively must take into account females’ status in a gendered society and must use different program approaches from those used for males. Counseling can be effective, but it should be part of a complete program that addresses the multiple needs of delinquent and at-risk young women, includes educational and occupational support and skill-building, and has other characteristics. 22 references