Risk Factors Associated with Female Juveniles

Paper Summary:

Institutionalization has historically been the juvenile justice system's primary reaction to at-risk girls. The juvenile justice system concentrated on detaining and committing these status offenders, instead of examining what caused their problems and providing community-based services to effectively address them. This paper shows that the juvenile justice system is based on prevention, intervention, and treatment; therefore, meaningful preventive measures, successful intervention efforts, and constructive rehabilitative programs should remain at the heart of the system. It argues that the system should hold offenders accountable and nurture them. This is particularly true for juvenile female offenders in light of the deep emotional needs evidenced by many young women who are in the system. Likewise, an effective juvenile justice system is one that promotes and fosters self-control and responsibility among young women, helps them become accountable for their actions, and promotes the public safety and welfare.

From the Paper:

"Misguided stereotypes and inadequate programming continue because there is a lack of information on female juvenile offenders. Research on juvenile offenders should include significant samples of girls, when possible, to identify and address the impact of gender on girls' life situations, behaviors, strengths, and needs. To prevent girls from becoming involved in the juvenile justice system, profiles of girls who are likely to become involved in the system should be identified. Efforts to predict which young people are likely to engage in at-risk or delinquent behavior, based on early childhood behavior, have proved to be of little success for girls."

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