Girls' Crime and Woman's Place: Toward a Feminist Model of Female Delinquency

1989 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meda Chesney-Lind
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Female Delinquency ◽  
Women's Oppression ◽  
The Relationship

This article argues that existing delinquency theories are fundamentally inadequate to the task of explaining female delinquency and official reactions to girls' deviance. To establish this, the article first reviews the degree of the androcentric bias in the major theories of delinquent behavior. Then the need for a feminist model of female delinquency is explored by reviewing the available evidence on girls' offending. This review shows that the extensive focus on disadvantaged males in public settings has meant that girls' victimization and the relationship between that experience and girls' crime has been systematically ignored. Also missed has been the central role played by the juvenile justice system in the sexualization of female delinquency and the criminalization of girls' survival strategies. Finally, it will be suggested that the official actions of the juvenile justice system should be understood as major forces in women's oppression as they have historically served to reinforce the obedience of all young women to the demands of patriarchal authority no matter how abusive and arbitrary.

Identity Distress, Parental Response, and Problem Behaviors in Juvenile Justice-Involved Boys

2020 ◽  
pp. 009385482096888
Author(s):  
Baptiste Barbot ◽  
Sascha Hein
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Parental Response ◽  
Externalizing Problem ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Multiple Problem Behaviors ◽  
Youth Problem Behaviors

Youth involved with the juvenile justice system are not exempt from experiencing identity-related turmoil that is common during adolescence. Parents’ responses may exacerbate or mitigate this turmoil and, in turn, youth problem behaviors. Thus, this study investigated identity distress as a mediator of the relationship between parental response to adolescents’ distress and their problem behaviors among 113 detained males aged 12 to 18 ( Mage = 15.3, SD = 1.44) in Connecticut, USA. Participants completed measures of identity distress, parental response to their developmental distress, and multiple problem behaviors. A latent mediation model indicated that a supportive parental response was directly associated with decreased problem behaviors, whereas an avoidant parental response was indirectly associated with increased problem behaviors through increased identity distress. Developmentally salient identity-related distress of juveniles and the corresponding response of their parents are important to consider in understanding youth externalizing problem behaviors within the juvenile justice system.

The Impact of Victimization, Mental Health Problems, and Disabilities on Juvenile Justice Processing: Does Gender Matter?

2020 ◽  
pp. 001112872095002
Author(s):  
Allison T. Chappell ◽  
Scott R. Maggard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Impact

Victimization, mental health problems, and disabilities are associated with an increased likelihood of delinquent behavior, and girls in the juvenile justice system report higher rates of past trauma and victimization, sexual abuse, and mental health issues than boys. However, the influence of these problems on juvenile justice processing remains understudied. This study investigated the impact of victimization, mental health problems, disabilities, and comorbidity on intake and adjudication decisions across gender. Data on 74,636 intake cases were obtained from the centralized database of the juvenile justice office in a mid-Atlantic state (FY 2011–2015). Findings suggest that mental health problems, victimization, and disabilities are associated with increased punitiveness at intake but few consistent gender differences emerged. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Discrimination or Sex Differences? Criteria for Evaluating the Juvenile Justice System's Handling of Minor Offenses

1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefina Figueira-McDonough
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
School Attachment ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Gender Group ◽  
Group A ◽  
Males And Females

The overrepresentation of female minor offenders in the juvenile justice system and the more severe handling of them than of males committing the same type of offense have come under attack as evidence of discriminatory practices. Defenders of the system claim that official statistics reflect de facto differences in the delinquent behavior of boys and girls and that differences in treatment correspond to the different needs of each gender group. A review of recent research invalidates such justifications by showing that (1) there is no evidence of gender specialization in behavior classified as minor offenses, and (2) the causal factors explaining involvement in minor delinquency are much the same for boys and girls. Furthermore, school attachment, at the peak age of involvement in minor delinquency (15-16), appears to function equally for males and females as a stronger restraint than family attachments. It is concluded that schools should play a much more central role in prevention programs for both groups.

Will Diversion Reduce Recidivism?

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Lundman
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
Labeling Theory ◽  
Diversion Programs ◽  
Symbolic Interactionist ◽  
And Control

This paper describes diversion from the juvenile justice system, among the newest of the strategies adopted to prevent and control delinquent behavior; specifies the sociological origins of diversion programs, with special attention to the symbolic interactionist tradition, labeling theory, and labeling research; and considers certain problems and implications of diversion programs. The essential conclusion drawn is that diversion will probably not reduce recidivism or correct existing abuses.

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