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Gender and Family Martha Salazar CJS/240 December 12, 2013 Jesus Garcia

There are many similarities between a female and male delinquency but there are also many differences. Females are more likely to commit crimes or offenses that are not as serious as males. While there are a variety of crimes committed by males, females are most likely to be arrested for robbery, larceny theft or running away from home. Males are more aggressive when they commit crimes. Males commit more serious crimes such as murder and rape. Why are girls more likely to be arrested than boys for running away from home? There are no easy answers to this question. Studies of actual delinquency show that girls and boys run away from home in about equal numbers. There is some evidence to suggest that parents and police may be responding differently to the same behavior. Parents may be calling the police when their daughters do not come home, and police may be more likely to arrest a female than a male runaway.(Girls, Delinquency and Juvenile Justice) Family structure greatly affects juvenile delinquency. Investigation into the cause of juvenile delinquency shows that there is an association between family structure and the criminal behavior of these minors, even when socioeconomic status is controlled. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 72 percent of jailed juveniles come from a fragmented family (Georgia Supreme Court Commission on Children Marriage and Family Law, 2005). Policymakers are Chesney-Lind and Shelden, Girls, Delinquency and Juvenile Justice, chapter 2 and references therein. Chesney-Lind, M. (1974). Juvenile delinquency: The sexualization of female crime. Psychology Today, July, 43-46.

beginning to recognize the link between family structure and juvenile crime. For example, a study conducted in Wisconsin found that the incarceration rate for children of divorced parents was 12 times higher than for children in two-parent families (Fagan, 2001). Juveniles without supervision from parents or guardians are also most likely to become criminals. Juveniles have the freedom and opportunity to commit a crime and might think they will not get caught. This makes it easy for a juvenile to become a criminal and not think about the consequences. Most parents nowadays have to work to have a better life and are not always there for their kids. Sometimes these types of parents do not realize that they might be doing something incorrect and are in some way harming their children. When there is one parent living in the home as opposed to two, it is more difficult to supervise children all the time. Every day activities like errands and work must be completed by the parent, which leaves no parent in the home. Because of this, children in single-parent homes tend to receive lower levels of supervision. There is a strong correlation between lack of parental supervision and an increased likelihood of juvenile substance abuse, criminality and delinquency. Many children have parents that are criminals themselves and this increases the juveniles chance to become a criminal as well. Juveniles might see crime as a normal act in life because this is the image they receive at home. Males and females are treated differently in a juvenile system. Girls are processed far more serious than males for delinquent behavior even though males commit more serious crimes. There is an abundance of research highlighting sexism regarding the increased likelihood of girls being institutionalized for status offenses. In addition, the conditions of female delinquents institutions are considerably worse than boys (Chesney-Lind & Shelden, 1992), and delinquent Chesney-Lind and Shelden, Girls, Delinquency and Juvenile Justice, chapter 2 and references therein. Chesney-Lind, M. (1974). Juvenile delinquency: The sexualization of female crime. Psychology Today, July, 43-46.

girls experience additional risks of sexual victimization by male staff and other inmates (Chesney-Lind & Rodriguez, 1983). Similar to womens prisons, female delinquent institutions often serve to reinforce traditional gender roles and perpetuate stereotypes (Gelsethorpe, 1989). There are many reasons why juveniles commit delinquent behavior and everything starts from home, the environment, and love and attention they do not receive. It is important to watch our children from an early age and teach them morals and explain the consequences of delinquent acts. Many juveniles will not bother to care or listen anyway but many will. Many juveniles just need love and attention and we as adults should be there for any child in need. A difference can be made but we have to be aware of our childrens life and not leave them to the end of our priorities. We cannot complaint about our children when they commit crime if we have never been there to listen or to communicate.

Chesney-Lind and Shelden, Girls, Delinquency and Juvenile Justice, chapter 2 and references therein. Chesney-Lind, M. (1974). Juvenile delinquency: The sexualization of female crime. Psychology Today, July, 43-46.