Youth and Delinquency

1. Does the increase in the arrests of girls reflect a change in behavior among girls or is this due to a change in the way society responds to girls’ behavior? Explain.

The arrests were most probably the result in change in behavior among girls. The report highlights many changes that may have taken place to influence the departure to more dangerous and delinquent behavior.

First, girls were said to be involved in criminal activities to fit in with their peers. A group of three girls will attract some other two girls. This will imply that that the number of girls participating in illegal activities will continue to rise rather than drop. Second, those girls who were in relationships with boys who were involved in criminal activities were likely to get involved in those activities as well as a way of getting approval from their approval. Thirdly, it was also found that it was possible for girls to get involved criminal activities as a way of coping with abuse. This was found true both in family setting and among intimate partners.

Another contributor of the change in behavior was poverty. It was noted that when people relocated to more affluent areas, their rates of arrest went down. This shows that poverty had a role to play in violence and other criminal activities. Girls from families that exhibited any form of immorality including prostitution, cohabiting, and crime were also likely to get on the wrong side of the law. Even with a stagnating rate of crime (which is unlikely), the number of crime being exposed to such activities is likely to be on the rise.

These results depict possible changes in the behavior of girls. These changes are motivated by both their environment and their social status. There is no reason to believe that the way arrests were made had changed in any way.

2. Based on the findings in the article, what do you believe would be a promising approach to address an increase in crime among girls? Provide details.

There are a variety of things that can be done to lower the rate of crime among girls. Different girls are influenced by different factors to commit crime. It is therefore advisable for as many of these measures as possible to be implemented. If some of them are implemented, the change in behavior will be evident but tot maximally.

First, the issue of poverty should be addressed. It is seen that girls are influenced by people in their societies who get involved in criminal activities. If the family members are better placed in terms of their social and financial status, the exposure of girls to criminal activities may be minimized. This may help to lower the level of crime among girls. Also, some girls seem pressed by their financial and social statuses to commit crime. If poverty is eradicated, the rate of crime may be lowered.

Counseling girls may also lower the rate of crime. Girls have a tendency to adopt criminal behavior for the sake of fitting in with their peers and partners. If such girls are counseled, they may become more confident with themselves and therefore find no need in fitting in. Counseling may also help to reduce the number of girls already in crime for their own gain. If coupled with education, counseling may help girls to identify ways they can improve their own livelihoods without participating in criminal activities.

Better laws that govern drug abuse. Drug abuse may be a contributor in the rate of criminal activity among both girls and boys. If drugs are harder to find, some individuals may find the need to withdraw from drug abuse and by design criminal activities too.

References

Zahn, M., Hawkins, S., Chiancone, J., Whitworth, A. & others (2010). Girls Study Group: Understanding and Responding to Girls’ Delinquency.