Comparing and Contrasting Male and Female Juvenile Delinquents
The article titled Profile of Incarcerated Juveniles: Comparison of Male and Female
Offenders (Martin et al., 2008), effective methods of identifying potential juvenile offenders are
discovered and reviewed. The discoveries made will help develop prevention programs at the
state and national levels. The juveniles examined are offenders in a large juvenile justice system.
The participants are of multiple races and live in a Midwestern city with a high rate of crime as
indicated by federal standards. They each served different length sentences in a detention center
between 2004 and 2007 (Martin et al., 2008). The difference and similarities between male and
female delinquents can be analyzed. By determining the basic psychological and behavioral
profile of these juveniles, one can hope to gain a better insight on the characteristics and to
identify future offenders. It can inferred that if these characteristics can be recognized, then it
will be possible to intervene in the cycle of juvenile crime and violence.
Juvenile Males
The incarcerated juvenile offenders in this study have a connection with a traumatic past
that includes physical, mental and sexual abuse, along with the witnessing of violent acts and
neglect. Trauma, to this degree, has a negative effect on juveniles, and pushes them to display
behaviors such as, running away from home, selling drugs, and stealing (Martin et
We wonder why there is a difference between females and males in the juvenile justice system. Do girls and boys get treated differently in the juvenile justice system? Does gender really differ their actions being made or is it the way their parents raised them? There are so many questions to be answered on whether there is a gender differences in the juvenile justice system because males and females are not the same. Not only are there questions to be answered, but also there are so many differences on how females and males are being processed in the juvenile justice. Females and males are completely different; they come in all shapes, sizes, races, personalities and attitudes. No male is the same and no female is the same. Gender differences
Gender plays a big role in whether or not the juvenile offenders get the treatment they need. Often female offenders are misunderstood or not taken seriously because they are stereotyped as criers, liars, and manipulators. If and when these girls do get treatment for mental health care, often it is not the correct one. In the Gaarder, Rodriguez, and Zats (2004) article
There are many similarities and differences between the adult and juvenile justice systems. Although juvenile crimes have increased in violence and intensity in the last decade, there is still enough difference between the two legal proceedings, and the behaviors themselves, to keep the systems separated. There is room for changes in each structure. However, we cannot treat/punish juvenile offenders the way we do adult offenders, and vice versa. This much we know. So we have to find a way to merge between the two. And, let’s face it; our juveniles are more important to us in the justice system. They are the group at they
Juvenile status offenses are minor offenses that only apply to those under the age of 18 such as skipping school or running away from home. Other examples include curfew violations, possession and consumption of alcohol, and possession and use of tobacco. Theories such as the labeling theory and Robert Agnew’s General Strain Theory attempt to explain why females commit juvenile status offenses. Additional theories attempt to explain their treatment in the juvenile justice system such as the Chivalry Hypothesis. Based on the rising rates of status offenses for girls and the unique factors that contribute to this issue, better prevention and
In beginning my research on females in the juvenile justice system, I was shocked to see how many of the new female juvenile statistics had increased and were gradually catching up on the juvenile male statistics. The numbers have been growing every year, and may soon surpass the numbers the boys have held for so many years. It makes me sit back and wonder what in the world is going on with our female youth in today’s society to cause such a slight, in some cases, to drastic increase depending on the offense. In this research paper, I want to examine the statistics for female youth over the last ten years to discuss what offenses are increasing over others, investigate the reasoning behind this increase in order to try and understand where these teens are “coming from”, and if there is a way for our society to be proactive in our female youths lives in order to prevent them from entering the juvenile justice system and one day adult prison.
Female juveniles are known to be the most vulnerable. If they are growing up in poverty or suffering from abuse, their delinquent behavior are often leads to self-destruction. Female juveniles will most likely grow up to join street gangs, drop out of school, or become teenage mothers. Girls are the fastest growing segment of the juvenile justice system with minority females disproportionately represented among delinquent girls; two-thirds are girls of color. The majority have been subjected to some form of emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse (Lowen, 2014). The statistical evidence behind the delinquent behavior of female juvenile is disturbing. Juvenile girls are likely to be criminalizes for their behavior than juvenile boys would in the criminal justice system.
Research suggests that reducing the rate of reoccurring offenses for juvenile offenders is directly related to understanding the factors that increase the recidivism rates for this age group: the origins of the offenders, the behavior problems and causes, the adjudication process, and the type of offense committed.
JUVENILE TRANSFER TO ADULT COURTS A Look at the Prototypes for Dangerousness, Sophistication-Maturity, and Amenability to Treatment Through A Legal Lens http://psycnet.apa.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/journals/law/8/4/373.html
There is a moderate portion of juvenile law violations that are minor; however some young offenders are extremely dangerous and violent. (Caldwell, 2002) Studies have shown that most delinquent behavior stems from some sort of underlining issue or issues in a youth’s present or past history. State and county authorities must deal with these offenders while also responding to their personal social problems. This could range from child abuse and neglect, family issues and drug abuse, exposure to pornography and exposure to aggressive role models.
of the time. They offer their insight on effective corrections and individualizing treatments based on predictors for crime and behavioral knowledge, as well as conclude that recidivism is reduced by rehabilitation.
Many risk factors tie into juveniles committing crimes and these crimes contribute to the national statistics in the United
delinquency career as a whole, such a career actually consists of one or more specific
Juvenile delinquent behavior is believed to be under-represented due to the limited methods of collecting juvenile crime data. Juvenile arrests accounted for 16 percent of all violent crime arrests (i.e. murder, rape,
The Juvenile System has been around for a long time. The primary reason behind separating Juvenile from adult criminals is quite simple; the judicial system believes that the children are less culpable for their irresponsive behavior and they could easily be reformed as compared to adult offenders. The crucial role of the judicial system is to critically investigate, diagnose, and recommend treatments for the Juveniles rather than accrediting them. However, because of the increasing number of juvenile arrest for crimes committed by persons considered as a child, the attention that the given to a crime involving juveniles, the decreasing trust to the juvenile system itself and the lauder roar of the society for a safer place to live in,
This assignment will illustrate that by understanding the fundamentals of combatting juvenile delinquency and applying the theories to command practice will enhance the overall knowledge of the material. This document will demonstrate the juvenile delinquency reduction efforts and programs currently in operation in the Tampa area community. In addition, I will propose ways to improve the Tampa area community’s juvenile delinquency prevention efforts. Next, this paper will attempt to apply the main sociological theories that underlie these interventions that shape the community’s public policy for delinquency prevention. Finally, this paper will identify an appropriate strategy geared toward preventing delinquency that in consistent with the Behavioral theory.