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It's All in the Denominator: Trends in the Processing of Girls in Canada's Youth Courts

NCJ Number
200100
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2003 Pages: 73-98
Author(s)
Jane B. Sprott; Anthony N. Doob
Date Published
January 2003
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This paper examines youth court data to understand trends in Canadian juvenile justice during the past 9 years.
Abstract
The authors seek to understand two seemingly contradictory trends: (1) an increase in the proportion of girls found guilty in youth court cases, and (2) few changes in the rate of girls found guilty in youth court cases. After examining relevant data, the authors conclude that the trends involving girls in youth court are different depending on which denominator is used to analyze the trend. Just analyzing percentages does indicate that there is a 25 percent increase in the number of girls processed through youth court. However, by examining the rates for both girls and boys it becomes clear that the increase in the proportion of cases involving girls was due to a decrease in the rate of boys youth court cases. As such, researchers should be focusing their attention on explaining why the rate of girls seen in youth courts has remained relatively stable over time, while the rate for boys has decreased. The author underscores the importance of correctly interpreting data related to trends in social phenomena. Tables, notes, references

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