5305.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 8:30 PM

Abstract #11716

Girls and the perpetration of violent crime: Why are the numbers increasing?

Marci Feldman, MSEd1, Bruce Kennedy, EdD2, and Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD1. (1) Division of Public Health Practice, Harvard University, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, 617-495-7777, mfeldman@hsph.harvard.edu, (2) Health and Social Behavior, Harvard University, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

Historically, boys have been the perpetrators of most violent acts. Consequently, most programs are designed for boys, neglecting a critical portion of the population-young women. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention reports indicate that between 1989 and 1993, the relative growth in juvenile arrests involving females was more than double the growth for males, and juvenile arrests recorded for Violent Crime Index offenses increased by 55% for females, versus 33% for males. Despite these increases in perpetration, only 2.3% of delinquency programs serve only girls and 5.9% serve primarily girls . Young women are at risk in ways that differ from boys. They are: seven times more likely to drop out of school for family reasons, and twice as likely to experience depression and proportionally higher levels of stress and suicide attempts. The barriers are even greater for African American young women, who are the fastest growing category of youth adjudicated for delinquent offenses and, once arrested, are treated more harshly than their European American counterparts at all stages in the juvenile system. To address these issues, the Harvard School of Public Health formed a young women's group at a local high school. In addition, Harvard convened a working group to examine girls and violence. The working group, informed by the anecdotal information from the young women's group, developed the first national survey asking young women about their daily lives and soliciting ways individuals and systems coulb be more supportive. Survey results and analyses will be presented.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to: 1. Identify at least three factors that place young women at-risk for the perpetration of violence. 2. Understand how the cycles of violence influence victimization and perpetration. 3. Articulate the trends that influence the statistics reflecting a drastic increase in the number of young women arrested for violent crimes. 4. Compare the needs identified by young women with the services currently available. 5. Compare and contrast the treatment of young women and young men in the juvenile justice system

Keywords: Youth Violence, Women

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Harvard School of Public Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA