Urban African American Girls at Risk: An Exploratory Study of Service Needs and Provision

Although much has been gained from efforts to document and improve upon race and gender bias within the juvenile justice system, research continues to overlook the importance of service provision, particularly in terms of race and gender differences and inequities. Research focusing on urban African American girls, in particular, remains sparse. This article contributes to these neglected areas by presenting findings from an exploratory, qualitative study of service providers in a southeastern city in the United States. The findings are based on providers’ perceptions of the major problems and needs of the African American girls they serve, as well as of the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of the programs and services they provide.