Polyvictimization and Girls’ Involvement in the Juvenile Justice System: Investigating Gender-Differentiated Patterns of Risk, Recidivism, and Resilience

Abstract

A recent dramatic rise in girls' arrests has increased our need to examine whether our models of youth justice system involvement need to be differentiated by gender. Polyvictimization, in particular, has been implicated as a powerful predictor of youth problem behavior. However, recent research suggests that polyvictimization is associated with youth involvement in the justice system in ways that differ for girls at the levels of the independent variables (i.e., the sources of risk), the dependent variables (i.e., youth outcomes), and the mediators of these associations (i.e., the purported mechanisms that account for these relations). The present critique describes growth points in the current research with the goal of suggesting promising directions for future investigations. In particular, gaps are noted regarding our understanding of the specific forms of polyvictimization that affect traumatized girls' development, especially given the highly disproportionate prevalence of sexual abuse among justice-involved girls. In addition, increased attention is needed to gender differences in the timing of victimization and the onset of risky behavior, as well as the nature of trauma-linked youth offenses and recidivism, which research also suggests may differ for boys and girls. Furthermore, a new body of research on psychophysiological reactivity promises to shed light on gender differences in trauma response, resilience, and risk. Finally, the importance acknowledging the intersection of polyvictimization, gender, and race is noted. The article ends with a discussion of the ways in which understanding gender differences and similarities can inform gender-responsive approaches to prevention and intervention efforts.

Predictors of Self-Determination and Mental Health Symptoms Among Youth in Juvenile Justice Facilities

“…The finding that higher SD was associated with prior abuse and in-facility victimization was unexpected and in the opposite direction as hypothesized, although effect sizes were small. Previous research suggests that youth with greater levels of polyvictimization would be at greater risk and have lower SD (Ford & Delker, 2018; Kerig, 2018). Thus, this finding is counter to previous research on youth SD and should be considered cautiously.…”

The Influence of Familial and Peer Social Support on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Black Girls in Juvenile Correctional Facilities

“…The content is solely the responsibility of the authors. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Camille R. Quinn, College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, 325U Stillman Hall, 1947College Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1132e-mail: quinn.395 G irls are the fastest growing group in the United States juvenile justice system, accounting for a third of all juvenile arrests (Kerig, 2018;Tam et al, 2019), and Black girls are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system when compared with their other racial/ethnic female counterparts (Hockenberry & Puzzanchera, 2017; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention [OJJDP], 2019). Black girls aged below 18 years accounted for about 35% of all justice-involved girls although they comprise only 14% of the national population of American girls (OJJDP, 2019;Sickmund et al, 2020;Vafa et al, 2018).…”

Intervention Response to the Trauma-Exposed, Justice-Involved Female Youth: A Narrative Review of Effectiveness in Reducing Recidivism

“…Over the past decade, females have become the fastest-growing cohort in the United States juvenile justice system—with young women accounting for a third of juvenile arrests [ 1 ]. With only 4% of available programs specifically serving female juveniles and 87% serving all or mostly males, gender-specific interventions and policies are needed to address the growing population of female justice-involved youth [ 2 ].…”

“…Longitudinal research also shows that cumulative trauma early in life is a powerful predictor of justice involvement for both boys and girls. Moreover, studies show that female adolescents in the justice system have consistently higher rates of traumatic exposure than their male counterparts [ 1 , 3 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. While males are more likely to have witnessed a violent event, females are more likely to have been the victim of violence [ 28 ].…”

“…Because female justice-involved youth are diverse, featuring various pathways into the justice system, effective intervention needs to be guided with the understanding of gender commonalities, as well as gender differences [ 1 ]. To appropriately address the needs of the girls in justice settings—particularly those with trauma features—research must determine effective interventions for this population [ 2 ].…”