Focus on the Family

Abstract

Interviews with 27 girls and the professionals who worked with them yielded retrospective accounts of court interventions into families. Contradicting prior criticisms, for the setting and sample, girls were not confined to control sexual activity or as punishment for crimes committed after they ran from abusive families. Intervention problems included holding girls responsible for fighting with physically abusive caretakers, and electronically forced presence in homes with destructive caretakers. Family counseling benefitted girls with troubled families. Independent living benefited those with intractably destructive families. The research generated contemporary local information about broad criticisms leveled against juvenile courts’ responses to girls.

Diminishing Returns? Threshold Effects of Dispositions and Recidivism Among Court-Involved Girls

“…On the contrary, findings from Morash and colleagues (2014) suggest courts consider out-of-home placement for girls who come from destructive and unstable families. In the Morash et al (2014) study, girls who had at least one stable parent in the home were less likely to reoffend. However, those who did not have at least one stable parent at home did better in out-of-home placements that empowered them and prepared them to live on their own (Morash et al, 2014).…”

“…Punitive decisions are often disguised as a concern to keep girls safe (e.g., Chesney-Lind & Pasko, 2012; see also Feld, 2009). For example, some courts diverted girls with status offenses to restrictive mental health and substance abuse facilities to avoid restrictions on their ability to place them in secure settings (Morash et al, 2014). These decisions are reflective of the general belief that girls and women cannot care for themselves or make good choices the same way boys and men do (De La Rue & Ortega, 2019).…”

“…It is important to examine how courts respond to girls and their outcomes. Previous research indicates that girls have different trajectories into the juvenile justice system and the types of delinquency they engage in tends to be less serious (Morash et al, 2014;Snyder & Sickmund, 2006). However, courts often respond to all youth without taking gender into account.…”

“…In the juvenile system, courts assume custody of youth and make decisions about placement in residential settings or to remain in the community with their parents (Morash et al, 2014). Youth who receive community-based sanctions are required to follow rules or be subject to additional regulations and sanctions (Morash et al, 2014). In general, effective responses to youth have favored community supervision over detaining youth (Parhar et al, 2008).…”

Les possibilités de désistement assisté pour les femmes enceintes et mères examinées à partir d’un échantillon communautaire

“…Peu de femmes de l'échantillon avaient des familles en mesure de fournir le type de soutien qu'a reçu Tanisha. Pour celles qui sont issues de « familles vides » (Schaffner, 2006 ;Morash, Stevens et Yingling, 2014), caractérisées par des problèmes de dépendance, l'incarcération et la maladie mentale, reconnecter avec sa famille mène inévitablement vers la récidive. Keira, parlant de sa mère : « [Elle] m'a présenté l'héroïne, l'aiguille.…”