Sociology

How does gender affect delinquency
Historically, males were considered to be more prone to delinquency than females, given that the latter were less aggressive than males. Female crimes were different in nature than the respectful male, since they had more to do with sexuality (prostitution, sexual crimes, running away). However, nowadays gender does not seem to affect delinquency as much as it did in the past. And that means that although female delinquents are still less than their male counterparts, their areas of engagement are not very different (gangs, larceny, assault being a few examples of the commonest female crimes).

What are some current explanations for gender differences as they relate to delinquency
 First of all there are types of developmental differences between the two genders. These can be summarized as a) socialization differences females are often more closely supervised unlike males that are more likely to display physical aggression. b) Cognitive differences Males excel in working memory tasks whereas females in the retrieval of long term memory. c) Personality differences females are often more easily revealing and express concern for others. Males behave dominantly and are less verbally proficient. Explanations for these differences between genders in delinquency are (1) the trait view,( i.e. when women become delinquent they do so due to either precocious sexuality, hormonal changes or premenstrual syndrome) (2) the socialization view that dictates that women are more closely monitored and that broken family plays an important role in their turning aggressive, (3) the liberal feminist view which has altered in theory the womans place in society and has a changing role in womens criminality and (4) the critical feminist view, that believes that criminal women are created due to the oppression that they succumb to by males.

How does family affect delinquency
Family is thought to influence the way an adolescent is developed by providing continuous support and inhibiting antisocial patterns. Frequently, broken families or dysfunctional families are placing kids at risk for delinquencies, by failing to provide positive role models and a stable environment deprived of abuse and conflict.

How does family makeup affect delinquency
The American family is not a large family but more a nuclear family nowadays. Moreover, almost 40 of children will experience parental divorce or separation or multiple family disruptions before age 16. Moreover, nowadays, a significant number of children are born to single unmarried women. The lack of positive role models and parental absence is a cause for delinquent behavior risk.

How does family behavior influence delinquency
Parents who neglect their children give way to delinquency. Inconsistent discipline and lack of supervision have been provably linked to juvenile crime. Parental and sibling misconduct and the case of child abuse, are all factors that predict delinquent behaviors. The shifting to a more nuclear family model, has changed the way families operate, since multiple family members used to constitute positive supporters, caregivers and played major roles in the upbringing of an adolescent.

Are delinquent females treated differently than delinquent males by members of the juvenile justice system
Although the justice system often treats offenders different based on their race ethnicity (Snyder  Sickmund, 1999) they do not offer a different approach when treating males or females. Many views exist that females are discriminated against receiving suitable treatment inside the juvenile correctional system.

Are they treated unfairly
Most believe that the inability of the system to recognize the basic gender differences between delinquents does not overall act in favor of the female offenders, since they receive suboptimal corrections directed initially at males. These girls require interventions by individuals capable of helping them with their problems.

Do they benefit from being female Why or why not
They certainly dont. Still most female offenders enter the JJDPA for lesser offenses than males, such as truancy or running away and moreover receive more severe sentences (Barnickol et al, 2000) (Miller, 1994). The environment of the juvenile detention facility constitutes a big threat to the female offender, since often crime is solicited and prostitution or drug abuse institutionalized. Often, pregnant delinquents have to spend time in correctional facilities with fear for their life and the safety of their embryo.