Research Projects
The Role of Gender in Juvenile Processing, Placement and Treatment
Co-Principal investigators Cindy J, Smith, Ph.D, and Laura A. Gransky, M.S.
The Center for Legal Studies (now the Institute for Legal and Policy Studies) at the University of Illinois at Springfield was awarded a grant to obtain an accurate description of the impact of gender on access to services available to juvenile offenders in down state Illinois. Two theories of processing discrimination were considered: sex role traditionalism and paternalism (chivalry). Data were collected at each stage of the juvenile justice system, following a multi-faceted approach. Primary data collection techniques included: surveys of judicial actors and high school students, in-depth interviews of key actors involved with youth, and case file reviews of delinquency petitions. Results from this study revealed that paternalism remains, especially in rural areas. However, this is dissipating as females commit more offenses similar to their male counterparts (i.e., more serious offenses). Unfortunately, the availability of services has not kept up with this increase, especially in the area of detention space and other residential placements. Data further indicated that when youth are processed differently because of their gender, it most often occurs prior to judicial involvement. With respect to youth encountered, both males and females were characterized as being younger, committing more serious crimes more often, increasingly coming from dysfunctional families, and lacking a conscience. Specifically, females were described as experiencing more family conflict than their male counterparts, as well as being "out of control". As such, the lack of out-of-home placements for females is of particular concern.