NCJ Number
182050
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2000 Pages: 89-128
Date Published
March 2000
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This paper addresses gender-specific treatment in juvenile justice processing.
Abstract
This topic is controversial and includes many unresolved issues. To provide context, the article is related to lessons from an initiative to address disproportionate minority confinement, i.e., it is impossible to understand confinement without understanding the process by which youths are confined, structural and demographic traits facilitate the process and benevolent interventions can have unintended negative consequences. The article presents empirical findings that juvenile justice cases are “gendered,” but that court treatment of those cases shows more gender similarities than differences. In contrast, interviews with officials suggest large gender gaps in opportunities for services and indicate some gender biases. Bias and disparity also were themes among delinquent and “at-risk” girls who participated in focus groups; in addition, girls expressed preferences for treatment comparable to that given to boys. The article evaluates what has been advocated as female-specific programming and recommends how best to proceed. Notes, tables, references, cases cited, appendix