NCJ Number
224657
Date Published
July 2000
Length
122 pages
Annotation
This report outlines promising practices in programming for girls who are already involved in the juvenile justice system or are at risk of delinquency.
Abstract
The most promising solution to female juvenile offenders is gender-specific programming. It is a comprehensive approach to female delinquency rooted in the experience of girls. It aims at helping girls already in trouble, while preventing future delinquency among girls who are at risk. It bridges theory-into-practice by combining female adolescent theory with juvenile justice practices. This revised and updated monograph provides a comprehensive review of the most relevant theoretical and research studies focusing on the gender-specific needs of at-risk adolescent girls, delineates the risk and protective factors affecting at-risk adolescent girls who may become juvenile delinquents, and presents effective gender-specific programming strategies for girls, both within the juvenile justice system and in community settings. The goal is to provide practical information to practitioners and policymakers on how to design and implement gender-specific programs for girls. An overview of the programs is provided. The three chapters contain an outline of the urgent need for programming for girls, a description of the planning involved in creating gender-specific programs, and an in-depth look at the key elements and features of programs that are designed to serve the specific needs of girls. Figures, appendixes, and references