Gender Differences in Predictors of Detention: Results from the Hawaii
Study
Lisa Pasko
University of Denver
Meda Chesney-Lind
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Introduction
Female offenders are one of the fastest growing segments, and likewise,
have become a focal issue for policy makers (Budnick and Shield-Fletcher 1998;
Acoca 1999; Bloom et al. 2002). Although the majority of juvenile arrestees has
always been male, the proportion of females has been increasing. In 1975, girls
represented 15% of juvenile arrests. In 1990, they represented 19% and by 2004
they were nearly 30% (Steffensmeier 1993; FBI 2005). While overall delinquency
rates have been declining since the late 1990s, this decline has not been equally
shared by both boys and girls. From 1995 to 2004, boys’ arrests dropped 47% for
Index Offenses (including murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault,
burglary, motor vehicle theft, larceny-theft, and arson) and dropped 18% Part II
Offenses (all other, less serious offenses) (Federal Bureau of Investigation
2005). In comparison, girls’ arrests for Index Offenses decreased 24% and fell
only 5% for Part II arrests (Federal Bureau of Investigation 2005).
Juvenile court data also suggest a similar trend. Whereas boys represent
the majority of cases handled by juvenile courts, girls in 2004 comprised over
one quarter of all delinquency cases, up 92% since 1985 (Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention 2006). Increases in female caseloads
outpaced boys in all four general offenses categories: person (202% increase for
girls v. 91% for boys), property (27% v. -19%), public order (171% v. 97%), and
drug law violations (171% v. 156%) (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention 2006). From 1991 to 2002, the female share of delinquency cases
increased 7% percentage points from 19% to 26%, with the biggest increase
occurring in public order offenses (9%). Additionally, the proportion of cases
petitioned to family court has also increased more for girls than for boys. Girls