RESEARCH INTO FEMALE DELINQUENCY HAS FOCUSED ON BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS, WITH STUDIES LINKING CRIME TO MENSTRUAL PERIODS OR SEXUAL ACTIVITY. SEVERAL PROJECTS HAVE DOCUMENTED A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BROKEN HOMES AND FEMALE DELINQUENCY, ALTHOUGH OTHERS NOTE THAT POLICE OFTEN FEEL THAT AN ADOLESCENT GIRL FROM A ONE-PARENT FAMILY NEEDS THE GREATER SUPERVISION PROVIDED BY INSTITUTIONALIZATION. OFFICIAL STATISTICS AND SELF-REPORTED ESTIMATES OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR USED TO DETECT HIDDEN DELINQUENCY INDICATE A HIGHER PROPORTION OF OFFENSES AMONG MALES AND FEMALES, BUT THEY SHOW A STEADY RISE IN ARRESTS OF FEMALE JUVENILES FROM 1960 TO 1972 AND A STABILIZING PATTERN BETWEEN 1972 AND 1976. ARRESTS OF MALE JUVENILES ROSE FROM 1960 THROUGH 1972 AND THEN DECLINED SLIGHTLY. ARRESTS OF FEMALES FOR VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIMES REMAINED LOW COMPARED TO THOSE FOR MALES, REFUTING THE CHARGES THAT FEMALE CRIMINALS HAVE BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE. FEMALES ARE MORE LAWABIDING THAN MALES, AND WHEN THEY DO ENGAGE IN CRIME IT IS LIKELY TO BE LESS DESTRUCTIVE. THEY COMMIT CRIMES SUCH AS LARCENY THEFT OR SHOPLIFTING. THE VAST DIFFERENCES IN ARREST RATES BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES PROBABLY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO SOCIALIZATION PATTERNS WHICH TEACH FEMALES TO BE PASSIVE AND CONFORM TO SOCIAL NORMS. ACCORDING TO POLICE ARRESTS AND JUVENILE COURT CASES, THE DISPARITY BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE DELINQUENCY IS NARROWING. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY LAWS CLEARLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST FEMALES AND WILL OFTEN IMPOSE STRICTER PENALTIES ON FEMALES CONVICTED OF SEXUAL DELINQUENCIES, RUNNING AWAY, AND OTHER STATUS OFFENSES. CHANGES IN FEMALE ROLE BEHAVIOR WILL NOT ENCOURAGE VIOLATION OF EXISTING LAWS, BUT THEY REDUCE VIOLENCE BY REJECTING IT AS UNSUITABLE BEHAVIOR FOR ALL SEXES. WHEN SEXISM IN JUVENILE STATUTES IS ELIMINATED, THE NUMBER OF FEMALE STATUS OFFENSES SHOULD DECLINE. TABLES, NOTES, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MJM)