Special Issues in Juvenile Justice: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity (From Juvenile Justice and Public Policy: Toward a National Agenda, 1992, P 165-195, Ira M Schwartz, ed. -- See NCJ-138726)

• NCJ Number: 138735
• Author(s): K H Federle; M Chesney-Lind
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 31 pages
• Sale Source: Macmillan
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter contends that three distinct patterns of juvenile institutionalization exist: one for girls, another for children of color, and yet a third for nonminority boys.

Abstract

The discussion begins with an analysis of the institutional experience of girls in the juvenile justice, mental health, and child welfare systems. The data suggest that deinstitutionalization of girls has had mixed success, given the continued reliance on secure placements outside the juvenile justice system. The chapter then addresses the institutionalization of minorities, which involves a more complex pattern of cumulative bias. The author concludes that the deinstitutionalization of status offenders has meant the transinstitutionalization of girls from juvenile correctional institutions to mental health and child welfare facilities. These systems apparently perpetuate sexist notions about the appropriateness of girls' behavior that is reminiscent of the double standard used in the earlier days of the juvenile court. The track experienced by minorities is racist. Deinstitutionalization apparently has benefited only white males. 92 references