The Delinquent Girl [Hardcover]

"A thoroughly well researched, state of the art overview of the current understanding of delinquency in girls…. Zahn and the contributors to The Delinquent Girl are to be commended for providing us with such a timely, useful and but also sobering volume. The editor and writers who contributed to this book do us all a great service with their thoughtful reviews of the existing literature on all facets of the field of girls’ delinquency. This volume will no doubt become required reading for anyone currently working in the field and for all those who intend to make girls and delinquency the focus of their future work."
—Gender Issues

"A well-written overview of the state of knowledge pertaining to girls’ delinquency that is comprehensive, while also written for a wide audience of researchers, practitioners, and interested citizenry."
—Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice

Over the past decade and a half, girls’ involvement in the juvenile justice system has increased. Yet the topic remains under-studied among criminologists. The Delinquent Girl is a “state-of-the-field” evaluation that identifies and analyzes girls who become delinquent, the kinds of crimes they commit and the reasons they commit them. The distinguished academics and practitioners who contributed to this volume provide an overview of the research on girls’ delinquency, discuss policy implications and point to areas where further research is critically needed.

The book begins with an examination of the major theories and explanations of female delinquency and considers the “gender gap” between male and female offenders. Other issues, such as the role of the juvenile justice system and changes in justice policies, are also addressed. Throughout The Delinquent Girl, the contributors use criminological and feminist theories to consider causes and implications—e.g., family dysfunction, community factors—and provide insight into treating and preventing juvenile delinquency.

Contributors: Robert Agnew, Angela Browne, Meda Chesney-Lind, Gayle A. Dakof, Barry C. Feld, Diana H. Fishbein, Peggy C. Giordano, Denise C. Gottfredson, Candace Kruttschnitt, Jody Miller, Shari Miller, Merry Morash, Christopher W. Mullins, Allison Ann Payne, Jennifer Schwartz, Darrell Steffensmeier, Donna-Marie Winn and the editor.