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"She's Way Too Good to Lose": An Evaluation of Honolulu's Girls Court

NCJ Number
237784
Journal
Women & Criminal Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: October - December 2011 Pages: 308-327
Author(s)
Janet T. Davidson; Lisa Pasko; Meda Chesney-Lind
Date Published
October 2011
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The authors of this report evaluated the efficacy of a gender-specific, problem-solving court for girl offenders.
Abstract
This research evaluates the efficacy of a gender-specific, problem-solving court for girl offenders. Official statistics, interview data, and focus group data are utilized to determine whether the court is achieving its stated goals of reducing recidivism, risky behaviors, and confinement for the girls who attend this court program. The present research demonstrates that the program does seem to be effective in terms of reducing both recidivism and risky behavior as well as increasing the development of prosocial and healthy relationships. The article concludes with some lessons learned from the implementation of this court program as well as ideas for future research. (Published Abstract)