The number of adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system is increasing dramatically, particularly among female juveniles. Little is known about the extent to which findings from research conducted on male delinquents can be generalized to females. This study was a preliminary examination of the self-reported risk factors of juveniles in detention to examine differences in self-reported risk factors by gender. Data were collected from a consecutive sample of 256 adolescents being held in an urban juvenile detention center in Ohio. Respondents completed an anonymous, self-administered, computerized interview. Results support previous research findings that female juveniles are at higher risk levels related to abuse and violence and are less likely to have supportive relationships.
Acoca, Leslie. (1995). Breaking the cycle: A developmental model for the assessment and treatment of adolescents with alcohol and other drug problems. Juvenile and Family Court, 46(4), 1-48.
2.
AlemagnoS., FrankS., MosavelM., & ButtsJ. (1998). Screening adolescents for health risks using interactive voice response technology: An evaluation. Computers in Human Services, 15(4), 27-37.
3.
Allgood-MertenB., Lewinshon, P. M., & HopsH. (1990). Sex differences and adolescent depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99, 55-63.
4.
Anaya, H. D., Cantwell, S. M., & Rotheram-Borus, M. J. (2003). Sexual risk behaviors among adolescents. In A. Biglan & M. Wang (Eds.), Preventing youth problems (pp. 113-143). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.
5.
Arnold, E. M., Kirk, R. S., Roberts, A. C., Griffith, D. P., MeadowsK., & JulianJ. (2003). Treatment of incarcerated, sexually-abused adolescent females: An outcome study. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 12(1), 123-139.
6.
Bardone, A. M., MoffittT., CaspiA., & DicksonN. (1996). Adult mental health and social outcomes of adolescent girls with depression and conduct disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 8, 811-829.
7.
BloomB., & Covington, S. S. (2000). Creating gender-specific treatment for substance-abusing women and girls in community correctional settings. In M. McMahon (Ed.), Assessment to assistance: Programs for women in community corrections (pp. 171-233). Lanham, MD: American Correctional Association.
8.
Carr, M. B., & Vandiver, T. A. (2001). Risk and protective factors among youth offenders. Adolescence, 36(143), 409-426.
9.
Chesney-LindM. (1997). The female offender: Girls, women, and crime. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
10.
Cocozza, J. J. (1997). Identifying the needs of juveniles with co-occurring disorders. Corrections Today, 12, 146-149.
11.
Covington, S. S. (2003). A woman’s journey home: Challenges for female offenders. In J. Travis & M. Waul (Eds.), Prisoners once removed: The impact of incarceration and reentry on children, families, and communities (pp. 67-103). Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press.
12.
Cowen, E. L., & Work, W. C. (1988). Resilient children, psychological wellness and primary prevention. American Journal of Community Psychology, 16(4), 591-607.
13.
DemboR., & Schmeidler J. (2003). A classification of high-risk youths. Crime and Delinquency, 49(2), 201-230.
14.
FamularoR., KinscherffR., FentonT., & Bolduc, S. M. (1990). Child maltreatment histories among runaway and delinquent children. Clinical Pediatrics (Philadelphia), 29, 713-718.
15.
GilliganC., Lyons, N. P., & Hammer, T. J. (1990). Making connections. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
16.
Greenfeld, L. A., & Snell, T. L. (1999). Women offenders (Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.
17.
Hartwig, H. J., & Myers, J. E. (2003). A different approach: Applying a wellness paradigm to adolescent female delinquents and offenders. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 25(1), 57-75.
18.
HoytS., & Scherer D. G. (1998). Female juvenile delinquency: Misunderstood by the juvenile justice system, neglected by social science. Law and Human Behavior, 22, 81-107.
19.
Kataoka, S. H., Zima, B. T., Dupre, D. A., Moreno, K. A., YangX., & McCracken, J. T. (2001). Mental health problems and service use among female juvenile offenders: Their relationship to criminal history. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 549-555.
20.
Lenssen, V. S., DoreleijersT., van DijkM., & HartmanC. (2000). Girls in detention: What are their characteristics? A project to explore and document the character of this target group and the significant ways in which it differs from one consisting of boys. Journal of Adolescence, 23, 287-303.
21.
McCabe, K. M., Lansing, A. E., GarlandA., & HoughR. (2002). Gender differences in psychopathology, functional impairment, and familial risk factors among adjudicated delinquents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(7), 860-867.
22.
Miller, J. B. (1988). Connections, disconnections, and violations (Working Paper Series No. 33). Wellesley, MA: Stone Center.
23.
Nagin, D. S., PogarskyG., & Farrington, D. P. (1997). Adolescent mothers and the criminal behavior of their children. Law & Society Review, 31(1), 137-162.
24.
PollockJ. (1998). Counseling women offenders. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
25.
RutterM. (1995). Causal concepts and their testing. In M. Rutter & D. J. Smith (Eds.), Psychosocial disorders in young people: Time trends and their causes (pp. 7-35). Chichester, UK: J. Wiley & Sons.
26.
Snyder, H. N., & SickmundM. (1999). Juvenile offenders and victims: 1999 national report. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
27.
SteffensmeierD., & AllenE. (1998). The nature of female offending: Patterns and explanations. In R. Zaplin (Ed.), Female offenders: Critical perspectives and effective interventions (pp. 5-29). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen.
28.
Timmons-MitchellJ., BrownC., Schulz, S. C., Webster, S. E., Underwood, L. A., & Semple, W. E. (1997). Comparing the mental health needs of female and male incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 15, 195-202.
29.
Werner, E. E. (1989). High risk children in young adulthood: A longitudinal study from birth to 32 years. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 59(1), 72-81.
