Girls in "The System:" Some Statistics

Gender bias in juvenile arrest and incarceration rates:

Between 1988 and 1997, the use of detention for girls increased 65% as compared with a 30% increase for boys.

Girls are 30% more likely than boys to be detained for minor offenses such as public disorder, probation violations, status offenses and traffic offenses (29% versus 19%).

Girls are almost 3 times as likely as boys to be detained for probation and parole violations (54% versus 19%).

Girls' rates of recidivism are lower than those of boys but are more likely to be reincarcerated due to probation or parole violations; 72% of girls vs. 49% of boys who return to detention three times within one year do so for probation violations or failure to meet program expectations.

As a result of gender biases in the system, many girls are repeatedly detained during their juvenile years, even though they have been convicted of only one crime.

Ethnic bias in juvenile arrest and incarceration rates:

Although whites constitute 65% of the population of at-risk girls, they account for only 34% of girls in secure detention.

African-American girls make up nearly half of all those in secure detention and Latinas constitute 13%.

Seven of every 10 cases involving white girls are dismissed, compared with 3 of every 10 cases for African American girls.

Lack of services for girls in the juvenile justice system:

Of the limited programs that currently exist for girls, most are mo deled after programs that serve males.

While most delinquent girls ha ve abused substances, been victimized, are behind in school, and need safe housing, co mmunity based delinquency programs are typically not designed to provide treatment to address these problems.

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SOURCE: "Justice by Gender: The Lack of Appropriate Prevention, Diversion and Treatment Alternatives for Girls in the Justice System;" a joint report of the American Bar Association and the National Bar Association, May 1, 2001.