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Issues in Identifying Educational Disabilities Among Female Juvenile Offenders

NCJ Number
140194
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1992) Pages: 124-127
Author(s)
K E Hugo; R B Rutherford Jr
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study reports the results of an investigation into the educational background of female juvenile offenders in an Arizona correctional facility.
Abstract
Thirty-eight subjects randomly selected from a population of 62 offenders ranged in age from 13 to 17 years and were voluntary study participants. The release of eight subjects after interviews reduced the total number of subjects on whom information could be collected to 29. Interviews were conducted with offenders, and their educational files were searched to determine the prevalence of female juvenile offenders who had received special education services while in public school. A thorough search of education and field files revealed that public school records of any kind existed only for 16 subjects. Personal interviews with the original 38 subjects indicated that 50 percent had problems in school; 84 percent said that school was important to them, and 87 percent replied that school was important to their parents. When asked what they would change about school, the most common answer was to have more interesting classes. Of the 16 subjects whose files were available, six (21 percent) were disabled, thus confirming a substantial number of female juvenile delinquents with educational disabilities. Recommendations to identify and assist disabled students at the earliest possible age are offered. 14 references