Femal Offenders in the Juvenile Justice System

The rising number of female delinquents in the juvenile system

Survey tells us that among U .S . penitentiaries , it 's already very common to see very young children behind the bars (Poe-Yamagata Butts 1996 . But the alarming rate of female juvenile offenders cannot be disregarded despite the fact that males still commit more crimes than their female counterparts . The OJJDP study , taken between the years 1983 to 1993 shows out that some young children engage in very serious antisocial behavior show by their behavior that they had early delinquency problems . Now , the

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention encourages all concern to avail and use the information compiled in this summary to deal with the needs of youth offenders and proceed to think of ways on how to be more strategic and effective as they implement their steps (Poe-Yamagata Butts , 1996 Female offenders as shown in the OJJDP demographics literally jumped (between 1989 and 1993 ) with the number of arrests involving female juveniles increased by 23 compared with an 11 increase in arrests of male juveniles (Poe-Yamagata Butts , 1996 . The stat summary implies myriad of things . From handling of their cases , to the way they are treated during the arrests and incarceration are some of the concerns aside from the questions why the rate has increased

Delinquent children usually come from a background of difficult circumstances . Some of them were virtually forced under certain circumstances that leave them no other options but commit certain crimes . Parental alcoholism , poverty , breakdown of family , abusive conditions in the home , death of parents during armed conflicts or drug overdose , and the HIV /AIDS scourge , and etc . are some of the various reasons that can leave children virtually orphaned . One or both parents may be physically present , but because of irresponsibility on their part (if even one of them is addicted to drugs or alcoholic , a child may grow developing certain ways and attitudes that are directly /indirectly caused by the parent /s addiction or drug-related behavior . In this case true delinquency lies on the parents and the children are , in a way orphaned or unaccompanied , and without any means of subsistence which in the first place , the parents ' fundamental responsibility to provide

The rise of female offenders I believe is a sign of notable changes of the family unit . When the family is under attack , i .e , increasingly dysfunctional because of divorce or separation or inability to properly nurture their children , these kids grow up with no moral fiber in their character . What is worse is that this picture tends to be repeated in a vicious cycle . Females get pregnant at an early age and bear children who will grow up in the same and even worst situations . The society as usual ends up as recipients of the troublesome effects of coexisting with them . There must be an increased vigilance to end or reduce the prevalence of female crimes and offenses . Teaching and communicating what parenting entails to the average family especially to...