Focusing on Girls and Young Women

As part of a nationally-funded effort to examine female delinquency, focus groups with girls and young women involved in the juvenile justice system were conducted in ten California counties. This article presents data from these focus groups and provides a detailed picture of the gendered perspective of these respondents in terms of the individual and social factors that contribute to risky behavior and delinquency among girls and young women. Family problems, including relationships with parents and communication problems, running away, abuse issues and substance use were factors most often discussed. Gang issues and violence were also identified as problems among a minority of girls and young women. Problems with school and the early onset of sexual behavior are also related to high-risk behaviors.