Differential Pathways to Violence and Self-Injurious Behavior: African American and White Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

Since the early 1990s, research, largely from a feminist perspective, has been devoted to identifying the “gender-specific needs” of delinquent girls. This article explores racial differences between girls and how these differences may affect the commission of violent behavior and self-injurious behavior. Self-report data were collected from 163 girls incarcerated in Ohio in 1998. Data were collected on a wide range of variables, including potentially criminogenic areas such as abuse, antisocial attitudes, drug use, type of parenting received, self-esteem, family experiences, and mental health. The findings indicate that some of these variables differ significantly by race. Furthermore, these criminogenic areas are investigated in order to test their relationship to self-reports of violence, self-injurious behavior, suicide attempts, and overall delinquency. These models are then examined by race with findings that demonstrate the fallacy of representing girls as a homogeneous group. Of particular interest is how differently girls respond to abuse, based on race.

Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors Among Youths in Juvenile Detention

“…A recent national study of 79 suicides among incarcerated and detained youth found that over two-thirds of the suicide victims had made prior attempts, reported suicidal ideation, made suicidal threats, or physically harmed themselves. 5 Although studies have examined suicidal behaviors in youth in long-term correctional facilities, 12,13 youth in residential facilities, 14 and youth formally processed by the juvenile justice system, 15 few large-scale investigations have examined detained youth in the United States. Findings vary widely.…”

Racial differences in the associations of neighborhood disadvantage, exposure to violence, and criminal recidivism among female juvenile offenders

“…For instance, in a report by the National Institute of Justice (2003), more than half of all Black youth in their normative sample witnessed violence (compared with 34% of White youth) and 24% were physically assaulted (compared with 16% of White youth). Conversely, a study specific to girls in the juvenile justice system found that White female juvenile offenders were more likely to report being physically abused than Black female juvenile offenders (Holsinger & Holsinger, 2005). This difference between the correctional sample and the normative sample, if replicated, may be indicative of a higher risk threshold for White girls to engage in antisocial behavior that leads to incarceration.…”

“…Several cross-sectional studies have found that incarcerated girls and girls living in urban settings are more likely to both experience and witness violence (Holsinger & Holsinger, 2005;Lipschitz, Ramusson, Anyan, Cromwell, & Southwick, 2000). Odgers & Reppucci (2002) suggest that as many as 90% of girls within the juvenile justice system have experienced some form of violence.…”

“…Finally, some studies suggest that Black and White girls may react differently to exposure to violence (Buka,Stichick, Birdthistle, & Earls, 2001;Flannery et al, 2004;Holsinger & Holsinger, 2005;Nofziger & Kurtz, 2005;Zingraff, Leiter, Myers, & Johnsen, 1993). Holsinger and Holsinger (2005) found that incarcerated girls were more likely to commit a violent crime if they had been abused.…”

“…Holsinger and Holsinger (2005) found that incarcerated girls were more likely to commit a violent crime if they had been abused. When separating these data by race, the results held true for Black girls but not for White girls.…”