While juvenile crime has dropped overall and the problems of young male offenders tend to get more attention, girls under the age of 18 have become the fastest growing segment of the juvenile justice population, said the ABA report, which is an amalgamation of many studies on girls and crime. Between 1990 and 1999, arrests of girls increased more than male arrests for curfew and loitering, drug abuse and assault. The report suggested that the surge in young female deliquents isn't necessarily the result of more violent and aggressive behavior among girls. The report attributed the disparity to bias on the part of police, prosecutors, judges and public agencies that handle runaway cases. Girls are detained for less serious offenses than boys and are more likely to be detained for minor offenses, such as public disorder, probation violations and traffic offenses.
Girls are more likely to be sent back to detention after release.
The ABA recommended that communities develop alternatives to detention and incarceration for girls and revamp policies that send girls into juvenile justice facilities for minor offenses. The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Gannett Co. Inc. Shop.