NCJ Number
180848
Journal
Social Justice Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 1997 Pages: 187-210
Date Published
1997
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study provides data and information on the characteristics of girls in San Francisco's juvenile justice system, the nature of their offenses, and the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system's responses to them.
Abstract
Of the 10 girls interviewed, 8 were African-American and 2 were Latina. Their ages ranged from 14 to 18, with an average of almost 16. They were all from low-income or working-class families. Girls are more likely than boys to be charged with status offenses. That sexual activity plays a particularly crucial role in girls' detention rates is a result of the hidden sexism in the juvenile justice system. At the time of this study, there was only one unit with 20 beds for girls in San Francisco's Juvenile Hall. Although up to 12 girls could also be housed in the Receiving Unit, overcrowding often forces the counselors to place a second girl in a cell with a mattress on the floor. Based on this study, the authors argue that San Francisco's Juvenile Probation Department is not prepared to deal with the increasing numbers of the teenage female population in trouble. The programs offered are not adequate in either quantity or quality. Recommendations are offered for reducing overcrowding at Juvenile Hall, promoting gender parity in the way funds are spent, and improving the availability and effectiveness of placements for female juvenile offenders. 4 tables and 25 references