The Typology of the Female Delinquent

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• Racial Demographics (2021 residential placement rates per 100,000 female youth):
  • Black females: 51
  • Hispanic females: 15
  • White females: 18
  • American Indian females: 87
  • Asian females: 3
  • Nationally, the residential placement rate for Black females was 2.8 times higher than for White females, and for American Indian females, it was 4.8 times higher than for White females. This highlights significant racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.

 

Delinquent's Past Delinquent Acts

  Historically, female delinquency was often characterized by "status offenses" like running away and sexual misconduct. However, recent decades have shown a shift, with an increase in arrests for more serious offenses. While girls still account for a smaller proportion of violent crime arrests compared to boys, there has been a rise in their involvement in offenses like simple assault. For instance, between 1980 and 2006, girls' arrest rates for simple assault increased by 395%.  

Mental Health Issues

  Academic research consistently points to a high prevalence of mental health issues among female delinquents.

• Studies suggest that a majority of girls in the juvenile justice system (some research indicates as much as 74%) meet the criteria for at least one mental disorder.
• Female offenders often exhibit higher rates of mental health problems compared to male offenders, even when controlling for ethnic background and age.
• Common diagnoses include major depression, anxiety disorders (including post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD), and substance use disorders.
• There's a significant co-occurrence of mental health disorders and substance use disorders among justice-involved girls. For example, one study found that among incarcerated female youth with significant depressive or anxiety symptoms, 79% also had a co-occurring substance abuse problem.
• These mental health challenges are often deeply linked to histories of trauma, such as physical and sexual abuse.

 

Education Levels

  Research indicates a strong link between juvenile delinquency and educational underachievement. Female delinquents commonly have a history of poor academic performance, low academic achievement, and weak language skills. Studies have found that incarcerated youth, including females, often read significantly below their age level (e.g., at a fourth-grade level on average in some studies). School disengagement, chronic absenteeism, and dropping out are also commonly cited factors associated with female delinquency.  

Young Mothers

  The relationship between teenage motherhood and delinquency is complex. While teenage childbirth is associated with higher rates of antisocial behavior in young mothers, some research suggests that the birth of a child might actually lead to a reduction in certain risky behaviors like smoking and marijuana use among adolescent girls, potentially acting as a "trajectory-modifying effect." However, the association between teenage childbirth and criminal convictions can be confounded by shared genetic and environmental factors that influence both outcomes.  

Drug Abuse

  Female juvenile delinquents often exhibit high rates of drug abuse, and there are some gender-specific patterns.

• Studies indicate that girls involved with the justice system are more likely than boys to report dependence on drugs.
• While marijuana use may be more prevalent among boys, girls have shown higher lifetime prevalence of using drugs like crack, heroin, amphetamines, and crystal methamphetamine.
• A significant percentage of female juvenile arrestees are classified as polydrug users (e.g., nearly 16% of girls compared to 11% of boys in one study).
• The co-occurrence of substance use disorders with mental health issues is particularly common among female delinquents.

 

Victim/Offender Past

  The "victim-offender overlap" is a well-documented phenomenon, especially pronounced among female delinquents.

• Most offenders have also been victims of crime, and this is particularly true for girls in the juvenile justice system.
• Histories of physical and sexual abuse are virtually universal among girls in contact with the justice system. For instance, research consistently finds extremely high rates of such abuse among female juvenile delinquents.
• Victimization experiences, especially childhood maltreatment, are linked to a range of negative outcomes including impaired decision-making, trauma (including PTSD), and the development of mental health and substance abuse issues, all of which can contribute to offending behavior. Trauma can lead to long-term changes in brain structures involved in emotion regulation and aggression.

 

Typical Delinquent Behaviors

  While female delinquency is diverse, common behaviors often include:

• Status offenses: Running away from home, truancy, and curfew violations remain prevalent, often as a response to problematic home environments (e.g., abuse or neglect).
• Property offenses: Larceny-theft is a common offense for which girls are arrested.
• Assaultive behaviors: While less frequent than male violence, girls' arrests for simple assault have seen significant increases.
• Disorderly conduct: This category also sees a notable percentage of female arrests.
• Drug-related offenses: Linked to their higher rates of substance abuse.

 

Common Risk Factors/Life Experiences Among Delinquent Females

  Based on academic research, at least four common risk factors and life experiences that are particularly salient for female delinquents include:

1. Victimization and Trauma: This is arguably one of the most consistent and critical risk factors. The high prevalence of physical and sexual abuse in the histories of female delinquents is widely documented and understood to contribute significantly to mental health issues, substance abuse, and subsequent offending.
2. Mental Health Issues (particularly internalizing disorders and co-morbidity): Female delinquents exhibit high rates of mental health disorders, often exceeding those of their male counterparts, with a particular prevalence of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The co-occurrence of these disorders with substance abuse is also a common and challenging factor.

Sample Answer

        Understanding the "typical" female delinquent requires acknowledging that while common patterns exist, each individual's pathway to delinquency is complex and influenced by a unique set of circumstances. Academic research highlights several recurring themes when describing this population.  

Juvenile Delinquent Definition

  In academic literature, juvenile delinquency generally refers to a young person (typically under the age of 18, though the precise age can vary by jurisdiction) who has committed an act that would be considered a crime if committed by an adult. It can also include "status offenses," which are behaviors considered illegal only because of the individual's age (e.g., truancy, running away from home, curfew violations).  

Numerical Facts of Female Delinquents

  While male juveniles historically account for the majority of delinquency cases, the proportion of female involvement has been a significant area of study due to its increase over time, particularly in certain offense categories.

• Overall Involvement: In 2021, the delinquency case rate for females was 7.34 per 100,000 female youth, compared to 19.37 for males. While still lower than males, the disparity has decreased over time; in 1985, the male rate was 4 times greater than the female rate, declining to 2.6 times by 2021.
• Arrest Statistics (2020 data):
  • Females accounted for 29% of all juvenile arrests.
  • They represented a higher percentage of arrests for certain offenses, such as larceny-theft (36%), simple assault (38%), disorderly conduct (37%), and prostitution/commercialized vice (61%).