The numbers tell us two sobering facts about girls and juvenile justice. First, they indicate that the percentage of girls in the juvenile justice system has steadily increased over the decades, rising from 17 percent in 1980 to 29 percent in 2011. Second, girls are more likely than boys to be arrested for "status offenses"--behaviors that would not be considered offenses at the age of majority– and often receive more severe punishment than boys.
What the numbers fail to reveal is the story behind the statistics.
...Victimization of girls typically precedes their involvement with the system. Up to 73 percent of the girls in the juvenile justice system have histories of physical and sexual violence. A study of 319 girls in the juvenile justice system in Florida found that 64 percent reported past abuse, including 37 percent reporting abuse by a parent; 55 percent reporting abuse by someone other than a parent; and 27 percent reporting both types of abuse.
...Taken together, the five steps below would provide an excellent starting point to shift the conversation from how to deal with "bad girls" to one that recognizes the strength and resiliency of girls so they can get the support they need:
Support HR 4123, Prohibiting the Detention of Youth for Status Offenses Act, introduced in late February by U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas of the San Fernando Valley in California.
For the other four steps, go to:
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