Research

Voices Heard | Aging Out | Infant Mortality | ◊ Girls in Juvenile Justice System

Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

A 2006 study, "A Rallying Cry for Change: Charting a New Direction in the State of Florida's Response to Girls in the Juvenile Justice System," conducted by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, outlines:

  • The pathways of girls in the Florida juvenile justice system and identifies their treatment needs.
  • Outlines an essential set of services and a system of care to meet the multiple needs of girls

In Florida, almost one out of three youth referred to the Department of Juvenile Justice is a girl. On an average day, Florida has 1,000 girls committed in residential placements—the highest rate in the nation. This is larger than any single state and nearly double the national average.

In 2004-2005, 52% of girls in Florida admitted to residential programs were committed for misdemeanors and violations of probation. Compared to boys, girls were admitted for less serious offenses and had fewer prior felonies. Many girls in juvenile commitment programs had histories of physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect, as well as offenses and/or aggressive behavior related to domestic violence.

There is county-specific data available, which indicates that Duval County presents some unique challenges. Duval has the highest number of girls committed to residential placements for misdemeanors or non-law violations of probation. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability found that many delinquency judges consider treatment options in Duval County to be inadequate and thus commit girls to institutions outside the community.

The response to the original research has been the development of recommendations to address the needs and issues at a state level, along with local initiatives.

The Women's Giving Alliance has awarded a two-year grant to the Children's Campaign to establish a "Justice for Girls Initiative—Duval County, "to identify priority needs/issues; to map out a blueprint for civic engagement to address the needs.

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