They get into fights. They carry guns. They look dangerous. They inspire fear. They get attention.
Girls get into trouble more quietly.
When girls are angry, frightened, or unloved, they are more likely to strike inward. Because girls in crisis are more likely to threaten their own well-being, they may not seem dangerous to society. Overall, girls do pose a smaller problem than male delinquents. They commit far fewer crimes than boys. In 1995, 23.5 percent of arrests of girls under 18 were for larceny-thefts, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report.