GENDER SPECIFIC SERVICES

Gender Specific Services: Understanding and Responding to Girls' Delinquency

Leshan Hanson

Springfield College School of Human Services

Gender Specific Services: Understanding and Responding to Girls' Delinquency

Introduction

When one thinks of a juvenile delinquent, the face of a boy most likely comes to mind. Boys do commit the overwhelming number of juvenile crimes, and their offenses tend to be more violent and dangerous than the offenses most girls commit. However, many people have come to believe that the problem of female delinquency is growing faster than the problem of male delinquency.

While girls still comprise only about one-fourth of all juvenile arrests, their numbers are increasing at an alarming rate. More girls are entering the juvenile justice system, and many at younger ages. The crimes that girls are committing have become more violent such as assault. They have become more involved in gangs previously thought to be male turf.

For decades, girls who have broken the law have entered a juvenile justice system that was designed to help someone else. The female delinquent has been overlooked and neglected by the juvenile system that was engineered to help troubled boys.

We have ignored the female delinquent and have forgotten what we have learned in almost all arenas of life that boys and girls may be equals but that they are different. Society including juvenile justice agencies must realize and admit that rehabilitation and prevention for girls has to differ in some degree than those designed for boys.

Researchers now have a better understanding of the risk factors girls face because of their gender which can ruin or delay their healthy development. For example, girls and young women are sexually abused before the age of 18 and almost three times more likely than boys to have high levels of stress, depression, and low self-esteem related to victimization. According to the OJP, the abuse and exploitation of young girls should be seen as a public health threat and a primary risk factor to involvement in the juvenile justice system (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1998). This new understanding of female adolescent development points to solutions for helping the increasing number of girls who are engaging in risky or delinquent behaviors.

The purpose of this paper is to place attention on the experiences and needs of delinquent girls. In this paper there are perspectives and observations offered by some of the most well respected expert's on female delinquency. They offer sound research that shows how girls develop, what their life experiences are, the unique factors that place them at risk as well as their strengths and needs (Chesney, 2001). This paper informs the reader of the kinds of trauma the majority of delinquent girl's experience, like domestic violence, and physical abuse. Most importantly, it will shed light on the unique characteristics of female development, like the ways in which they form relationships and the way they communicate. Finally, it answers the questions of why we need specific services in place to meet the needs of delinquent girls ...