YOUNG, FEMALE, AND OUTSIDE THE LAW - A CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR THE GIRL 'DELINQUENT' (FROM TEENAGE WOMEN IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM - CHANGING VALUES, 1979, BY RUTH CROW AND GINNY MCCARTHY - SEE NCJ-58227)

• NCJ Number: 58228
• Author(s): M K JOLLY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: New Directions for Young Women, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FEMALES IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

EVIDENCE THAT AMERICAN JUDICIAL AND CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS ACCORD FAR GREATER ATTENTION TO MALE OFFENDERS THAN TO FEMALE OFFENDERS IS CITED (E.G., LACK OF STATISTICS ON OFFENDERS PROVIDING BREAKDOWNS BY SEX, INFREQUENT OR BRIEF REFERENCES TO FEMALE OFFENDERS IN NATIONAL STUDIES, RELATIVE LACK OF RESEARCH ON FEMALE CRIME). JUVENILE COURT STATISTICS INDICATIVE OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION OF FEMALES AMONG STATUS OFFENDERS AND OF UNNECESSARILY EXTENSIVE USE OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR ALL JUVENILES ARE NOTED. THE RELATIVE ABSENCE OF NONINSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR FEMALE JUVENILES IS OBSERVED, AS IS THE TENDENCY FOR FEMALES TO BE KEPT IN INSTITUTIONS AND ON PAROLE FOR LONGER PERIODS THAN MALES. PROGRESS AND OBSTACLES IN THE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT ARE REVIEWED, ALONG WITH FEDERAL JUVENILE JUSTICE POLICY, AS EMBODIED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT AND ITS AMENDMENTS. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT ISSUES SURROUNDING THE TREATMENT OF FEMALES IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED BY BURYING THEM UNDER MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FEDERAL MONEY, AND THAT PERHAPS THE BEST HOPE LIES WITH THE INCREASING NUMBER OF FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS, YOUTH WORKERS, LAWYERS, AND JUDGES. A CASE STUDY ILLUSTRATING HOW UNJUST THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM'S TREATMENT OF FEMALES CAN BE IS PRESENTED. GREATER ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF FEMALE DELINQUENTS, THE CAUSES OF FEMALE DELINQUENCY, AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR FEMALES IS URGED. (LKM)