Urgent Work: Developing a Gender- Responsive Approach for Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

Este artículo revisa la prevalencia de niñas en el Sistema de Justicia Juvenil de Estados Unidos, compara las tasas de encarcelamiento nacional e internacional y examina las necesidades de un perfil de las niñas involucradas. Los autores ofrecen su modelo como ejemplo para desarrollar una aproximación dirigida al género femenino en el Sistema de Justicia, incluyendo una descripción de su operacionalización en una comunidad de los Estados Unidos. En los desarrollos críticos y la emergencia de oportunidades para cada uno de los componentes del modelo, se destacan: la promoción legislativa y las políticas, el modelo de programación, la educación pública, la capacitación y asistencia técnica, las herramientas sensibles al género, los sistemas de responsabilidad y la evaluación. Las lecciones aprendidas se presentan como plataforma para la interlocución sobre la manera en que la comunidad internacional puede, en forma individual, evaluar necesidades y recursos, y trabajar conjuntamente para dar una mejor respuesta a las niñas. El artículo concluye con recomendaciones para escoger, evaluar e implementar mejores prácticas para una reforma significativa.

Gender-Responsive Programs and Services for Girls in Residential Centers: Meeting Different Profiles of Rehabilitation Needs

“…Researchers also ascribe great importance to the kind of environment in which programs should be delivered. To be responsive to females’ pathways into the justice system, a program environment should promote respect, empathy, safety, agency, and privacy (Bloom, 2003; Ravoira, Graziano, & Patino Lydia, 2012). These guidelines are supported by both qualitative and quantitative studies conducted with female samples.…”

“…Focus groups with at risk and delinquent girls in shelter care and in correctional facilities have also highlighted adolescent girls’ need to be respected, listened to, and taken seriously by caring counselors (Garcia & Lane, 2013). Justice-involved girls also believe that the most important skills for care workers to acquire include, the ability to listen to and communicate with them, relate to them, understand their problems, value their perspectives, and treat them with respect (Ravoira et al, 2012). Beyond such guidelines, however, most recent studies recognize that in designing intervention programs for females, it is still important to apply the core principles of evidence-based practice, as identified in the “what works” literature (Barnett, 2012; Hubbard & Matthews, 2008; Kerig & Schindler, 2013; Lanctôt, 2011; Moretti et al, 2010; Zahn et al, 2009).…”

Gender-Based Psychosocial Differences in a Sample of Young Offenders

“…Some of these results are coincident with previous studies. For example, family traumas are more present in females than in males (Ravoira, et al, 2012). Although fewer girls than boys are involved in criminal behaviours, females present a worse profile than males do, with more complicated pathways.…”

“…Although females are a minority in juvenile justice systems (Rhoades et al, 2016), different studies have shown a striking increase in the proportion of female youth involved in the criminal justice system over the last few decades (Bäckman et al, 2014;Pusch & Holtfreter, 2018;Puzzanchera & Adams, 2011;Snyder, 2008). While boys are more likely to be charged with violent offences (robbery and assault), female minor offenders are more likely to present status offences, such as incorrigibility, truancy, and running away (Johansson & Kempf-Leonard, 2009;Leve & Chamberlain, 2005;Pusch & Holtfreter, 2018;Ravoira et al, 2012). In addition, the likelihood of recidivism continues to be higher for boys.…”

“…Further, studies have consistently indicated that rates of childhood sexual and physical abuse are 3.5 to 10 times higher for girls than for boys in the juvenile justice system (Johansson & Kempf-Leonard, 2009;Leve & Chamberlain, 2005). In this sense, female minor offenders present with complex physical, emotional, and psychological issues related to histories of trauma and abuse (Ravoira et al, 2012).…”