DOI: 10.3886/icpsr02754.v1
title: Profiling the Needs of the California Youth Authority's Female Population, 1996
title: Version 1

description: This study was designed to assess the needs and
 characteristics of the female juvenile offender population in
 California and to evaluate the existing program structure. The main
 focus was to conduct a pilot study to test an instrument the
 researchers had designed for profiling the needs of youthful female
 offenders in developing a protocol for use by other jurisdictions and
 agencies working with delinquent female youths. To study the needs and
 program demands of young female offenders, the researchers conducted a
 profile survey of 162 randomly-selected women at the Ventura School in
 the California Youth Authority (CYA) in the summer of 1996. The data
 are the result of personal interviews using a modified version of the
 instrument used for a 1995 study of adult female offenders in the
 California Department of Corrections by the principal
 investigators. Information was collected on demographics, social and
 economic background, criminal history, and correctional
 experiences. Demographic variables include age, race and ethnicity,
 marital status, and parents' marital status. Variables on social and
 economic background include religious preference, living situation,
 education, work history, family relationships, pregnancy history while
 incarcerated, and family and juvenile history. Criminal history
 variables cover gang involvement, arrest and sentence information,
 offense profile, reasons for committing the offense, weapon use,
 substance abuse history, and personal abuse. Variables on correctional
 experiences include abuse counseling, HIV testing, correctional
 programming participation, work experience during incarceration, and
California Youth Authority housing assignment.
description: While young female offenders remain a small
 minority within the juvenile justice system, the unique needs and
 program demands of this population require particular attention in
 terms of research and policy. Some research findings suggest
 delinquent females tend to be similar to male delinquents in terms of
 lower socioeconomic status, disrupted family backgrounds, and school
 difficulties. Most researchers argue, however, that girls' lives and
 girls' problems present unique challenges for the juvenile justice
 system and related social service agencies. These gender-based
 differences shape both offense patterning and policy response. This
 study was designed to assess the female juvenile offender population
 in terms of its characteristics and existing program structure. The
 main focus was to conduct a pilot study to test an instrument the
 researchers had designed for profiling the needs of youthful female
 offenders in developing a protocol for use by other jurisdictions and
 agencies working with delinquent females. The instrument and its
 accompanying instructions were intended as a guide to managers,
 researchers, and line staff who wanted to collect and analyze
systematic information on their youthful female offender population.
description: To study the needs and program demands of young
 female offenders, the researchers conducted a profile survey of 162
 randomly-selected women at the Ventura School in the California Youth
 Authority (CYA) in the summer of 1996. The data are the result of
 personal interviews administered using a modified version of the
 instrument from a 1995 study of adult female offenders in the
 California Department of Corrections by the principal
 investigators. This study was designed to be a pilot study testing an
 instrument the researchers had designed for profiling the needs of
 youthful female offenders in developing a protocol for use by other
 jurisdictions and agencies working with youthful female
offenders.
description: Demographic variables include age, race and
 ethnicity, marital status, and parents' marital status. Variables on
 social and economic background include religious preference, living
 situation, education, work history, family relationships, pregnancy
 history while incarcerated, and family and juvenile history. Criminal
 history variables cover gang involvement, arrest and sentence
 information, offense profile, reasons for committing the offense,
 weapon use, substance abuse history, and personal abuse. Variables on
 correctional experiences include abuse counseling, HIV testing,
 correctional programming participation, work experience during
incarceration, and California Youth Authority housing assignment.
description: Response Rates: The total response rate was 97 percent.
description: Presence of Common Scales: None
description: Random sampling.
description: Datasets: 
DS1: Profiling the Needs of the California Youth Authority's Female Population, 1996
description: Young female offenders in the California Youth Authority
system.