Pedagogy

Juvenile delinquency is a concern in any society because of its potential for wider social criminality and victimization. Historically, juvenile delinquency was associated more with male populations since incidence of delinquency among this population has been high and has even been correlated with organized crime or serial criminal activity. However, current research show that juvenile delinquency is growing at an alarming rate among girls and more, trends are diverging from accepted demographics regarding delinquency. In the study developed by Van Hulle and associates in 2007 study the significance of sex difference in cases of self-reported adolescent delinquency among full and half siblings. The study shows that neither difference in the genes influencing delinquency are not a factor nor are variance in aggressive and nonaggressive delinquency can be associated with genetic and environmental influences between either sex. However the study showed, using scalar sex-differences models, indicate that female subjects are less effect to genetic and environmental influences population variances. Testing of polygenic multiple threshold model variations of juvenile female delinquency also indicate that girls have higher causal liability for the expression of delinquency versus male contemporaries.

Furthermore, based on the article by Margaret A. Zahn, the proportion of females based on the Juvenile Offenders and Victims Report has risen in 1980 on a fifth of juvenile arrests were females but by 2003, the juvenile female arrests had already risen to 29. Statistic also showed that female offenders also tended to be younger than male offenders and minorities also constitute less of the offenders which are also contradictory to trends among male offenders. Though there are current models that can be used to study the causes and correlations of delinquency among female juveniles such as the ecological model, Zahn considers it an imperative to refine research with this specific population in mind. Considering these two researchers, it is clear that though there has been no discrimination in the development of programs for juvenile delinquency, the rationale that they have been built on may not have sufficient sensitivity and responsiveness to issues that may increase incidence of female juvenile offenders.

Annotated Bibliography
Van Hulle, C.A., Rodgers, J.L., DOnofrio, B.M., Waldman, I.D. and Lahey, B.B. (2007). Sex differences in the causes of self-reported adolescent delinquency. Journal of Abnormal Psychology,  Vol. 116 No.2. pp. 236-48.

The article suggests that though there are still similarities in the causes and incidence of juvenile delinquency girls and boys, there should be recognition of the social psychological dimensions unique to females specially the populations that are still adolescents. Equally, there should also be recognition of the differences in the relationships that these populations develop in among family, friends and general society. These issues have not been tackled directly by common research on juvenile delinquency and may require specific research to be directed to female juvenile populations to improve research.


Zahn, Margaret (2007). The Causes of Girls Delinquency and Their Program Implications. Family Court Review, Vol. 45 No. 3. pp.  456-465.

Anchored on the literature review done by the Girls Study Group, Zahn suggests that current programs already have the capacity to address these issues but there is a need to reinforce the level of awareness regarding changes in trends among female juvenile offenders.  The article recommends the use of programs that have gone evaluation for effectiveness either specifically for female juvenile offenders or programs that have been implemented for boys and girls as well as further studies on the precursors of the rise in incidence of female juvenile offenders.