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DOUBLE STANDARD OF JUSTICE - JUVENILE COURTS TREAT YOUNG WOMEN DIFFERENTLY

NCJ Number
49268
Journal
CIVIL RIGHTS DIGEST Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 10-15,18-19
Author(s)
P COHEN
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
DISPARITIES IN THE TREATMENT OF BOYS AND GIRLS BY THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT BETWEEN 70 AND 85 PERCENT OF ADJUDICATED GIRLS IN DETENTION ARE STATUS OFFENDERS, COMPARED TO 20 PERCENT FOR BOYS. AN INFORMAL SURVEY OF CHILD ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY REVEALED ONLY ONE INSTANCE OF A BOY BEING INSTITUTIONALIZED FOR SEXUAL PROMISCUITY, WHILE SEXUALITY APPEARED TO BE THE UNDERLYING CASE OF MOST FEMALE REFERRALS. UNDESIRABLE BOYFRIENDS, STAYING OUT AFTER CURFEW, WANTING TO GET MARRIED, AND INCORRIGIBILITY ARE AMONG THE COMPLAINTS PARENTS BRING TO THE COURTS REGARDING DAUGHTERS. OFTEN TRUANCY AND INCORRIGIBILITY MEAN PROMISCUITY WHEN APPLIED TO GIRLS. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT, THROUGHOUT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AS IN THE HOME AND THE SCHOOL, FEMALE SEXUALITY EVOKES PATRONIZING AND/OR BIASED TREATMENT. EXAMPLES OF WAYS IN WHICH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM DISCRIMINATES AGAINST FEMALES IN SENTENCING AND IN TREATMENT ARE CITED. IT IS NOTED THAT THE VICTIMS OF SEXISM IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE NOT AN ORGANIZED VOTING CONSTITUENCY AND THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OTHERS TO BE CONCERNED WITH THEIR FATE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)

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