Not only have female juvenile offenders been understudied, but also few attempts have been made to explore differences between female and male juvenile offenders. To examine gender differences among juvenile offenders, 36 female juvenile offenders were compared with 202 male juvenile offenders, in terms of offender background characteristics and personality functioning. As a result, female and male juvenile offenders differed in various aspects: as to whether they had a history of psychological abuse in the family and whether they had delinquent friends. Significant differences found between female and male juvenile offenders included alcohol/drug abuse and ability to handle difficult situations. In addition, female juvenile offenders were more likely to display mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, paranoia, schizophrenia, and suicidal ideations, than male juvenile offenders. The present study emphasizes that differential efforts of intervention and treatment for female juvenile offenders are necessary in order to prevent repetitive delinquent behaviors. Finally, limitations of the present study and suggestions for future research were discussed.
Andrews, D. A., Guzzo, L., Raynor, P., Rowe, R. C., Rettinger, L. J., Brews, A., & Wormith, J. S. (2012). Are the major risk/need factors predictive of both female and male reoffending? A test with the eight domains of the level of service/case management inventory. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 56, 113-133.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2012). Girls and young women in the juvenile justice system: 2010–11. Bulletin no. 107. Cat. no. AUS 162. Canberra: AIHW.
Belknap, J., & Holsinger, K. (2006). The gendered nature of risk factors for delinquency. Feminist Criminology, 1, 48-71.
Belter, R. W., & Piotrowski, C. (2001). Current status of doctoral-level training in psychological testing. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 57, 717-726.
Bloom, B., Owen, B., Deschenes, E. P., & Rosenbaum, J. (2002). Moving toward justice for female juvenile offenders in the new millennium: Modeling gender-specific policies and programs. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 18(1), 37-56.
Blum, J., Ireland, M., & Blum, R. W. (2003). Gender differences in juvenile violence: A report from Add Health. Journal of Adolescent Health, 32, 234-240.
Borduin, C. M., & Ronis, S. T. (2012). Research note: Individual, family, peer, and academic characteristics of female serious juvenile offenders. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 10(4), 386-400.
Calhoun, G. B. (2001). Differences between male and female juvenile offenders as measured by the BASC. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 33(2), 87-96.
Cauffman, E., Lexcen, F. J., Goldweber, A., Shulman, E. P., & Grisso, T. (2007). Gender differences in mental health symptoms among delinquent and community youth. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 5(3), 287-307.
Cauffman, E., Piquero, A. R., Broidy, L., Espelage, D. L., & Mazerolle, P. (2004). Heterogeneity in the association between social-emotional adjustment profiles and deviant behavior among male and female serious juvenile offenders. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 48(2), 235-252.
Chamberlain, P., & Moore, K. J. (2003). Chaos and trauma in the lives of adolescent females with antisocial behavior and delinquency. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 6, 79-108.
Chesney-Lind, M., & Belknap, J. (2004). Trends in delinquent girls’ aggression and violent behavior: A review of the evidence. In M. Putallaz & P. Bierman (Eds.), Aggression, antisocial behavior and violence among girls:A developmental perspective (pp. 203-222). New York, NY: Guilford.
Coid, J., Yang, M., Ullrich, S., Zhang, T., Sizmur, S., Roberts, C., & Rogers, R. D. (2009). Gender differences in structured risk assessment: Comparing the accuracy of five instruments. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 337-348.
Crespi, T. D., & Rigazio-DiGilio, S. A. (1996). Adolescent homicide and family pathology:Implications for research and treatment with adolescents. Adolescence, 31, 353-367.
Daigle, L. E., Cullen, F. T., & Wright, J. P. (2007). Gender differences in the predictors of juvenile delinquency: Assessing the generalityspecificity debate. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 5(3), 254-286.
Darby, P. J., Allan, W. D., Kashani, J. H., Hartke, K. L., & Reid, J. C. (1998). Analysis of 112 juveniles who committed homicide:Characteristics and a closer look at family abuse. Journal of Family Violence, 13, 365-375.
Dixon, A., Howie, P., & Starling, J. (2004). Psychopathology in female juvenile offenders. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(6), 1150-1158.
Emeka, T. Q., & Sorensen, J. R. (2009). Female juvenile risk: Is there a need for gendered assessment instruments? Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 7(4), 313-330.
Funk, S. J. (1999). Risk assessment for juveniles on probation: A focus on gender. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 26, 44-68.
Gavazzi, S. M., Yarcheck, C. M., & Chesney-Lind, M. (2006). Global risk indicators and the role of gender in a juvenile detention sample. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 33, 597-612.
Heide, K. M., Roe-Sepowitz, D., Solomon, E. P., & Chan, H. C. (2012). Male and female juveniles arrested for murder: A comprehensive analysis of U.S. data by offender gender. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 56(3), 356-384.
Holtfreter, K., & Cupp, R. (2007). Gender and risk assessment: The empirical status of the LSI-R for women. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 24, 363-382.
Hoyt, S., & Scherer, D. (1998). Female juvenile delinquency: Misunderstood by the juvenile justice system, neglected by social services. Law and Human Behavior, 22, 81-107.
Hubbard, D. J., & Pratt, T. C. (2002). A meta-analysis of the predictors of delinquency among girls. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 34, 1-13.
Jensen, J., Potter, C, & Howard, M. (2001). American juvenile justice: Recent trends and issues in youth offending. Social Policy &Administration, 35, 48-68.
Kempf-Leonard, K., & Sample, L. (2000). Disparity based on sex: Is gender-specific treatment warranted? Justice Quarterly, 17(1), 89-128.
Kim, Y. H., Kim, J. H., Oh, S. W., Lee, S. J., Cho, E. K., Hong, S. H. (2006). Personality Assessment Inventory-Adolescent manual. Seoul: Hakjisa.
Kong, R., & AuCoin, K. (2008). Female offenders in Canada. Juristat, 28. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Lee, S. J., & Cho, E. K. (2005). Development of a Risk Assessment Tool for Juveniles at Police Investigation. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 19(1), 27-43.
Lee, S. J., & Lyu, K. D. (2009). Psychometric Characteristics of Juvenile Risk Assessment Instrument: Inter-rater Reliability and Predictive Validity. Korean Journal of Psychology:General, 28(3), 485-505.
Leve, L., & Chamberlain, P. (2004). Female juvenile offenders: Definining an early-onset pathway for delinquency. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 13(4), 439-452.
Loper, A., & Cornell, D. (1996). Homicide by juvenile girls. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 5, 323-336.
Mallicoat, S. L. (2007). Gendered justice:Attributional differences between males and females in the juvenile courts. Feminist Criminology, 2(1), 4-30.
Martin, D., Martin, M., Dell, R., Davis, C., & Guerrieri, C. (2008). Profile of incarcerated juveniles: Comparison of male and female offenders. Adolescence, 43(171), 607-622.
McClellan, D. S., Farabee, D., & Crouch, B. M. (1997). Early victimization, drug use, and criminality: A comparison of male and female prisoners. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 24, 455-476.
McReynolds, L. S., Schwalbe, C. S., & Wasserman, G. A. (2010). The contribution of psychiatric disorder to juvenile recidivism. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 37, 204-216.
Miller, D. (1994). Exploring gender differences in suicidal behavior among adolescent offenders:Findings and implications. Journal of Correctional Education, 45, 134-138.
Moretti, M. M., & Higgins, E. T. (1999). Own versus other standpoints in self-regulation:Developmental antecedents and functional consequences. Review of General Psychology, 3, 188-223.
Morey, L. C. (1991). The Personality Assessment Inventory manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Mullis, R., Cornille, T., Mullis, A., & Huber, J. (2004). Female juvenile offending: A review of characteristics and contexts. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 13(2), 205-218.
Myers, W., Scott, K., Burgess, A., & Burgess, A. (1995). Psychopathology, biopsychosocial factors, crime characteristics, and classification of 25 homicidal juveniles. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 1483-1489.
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Girgus, J. S. (1994). The emergence of gender differences in depression during adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 424-443.
O’Brien, R. M. (2007). A caution regarding rules of thumb for Variance Inflation Factors. Quality & Quantity, 41, 673.
Pasko, L. J. (2006). The female juvenile offender in Hawaii: Understanding gender differences in arrests, adjudications, and social characteristics of juvenile offenders. Research and Statistics Branch, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, Department of the Attorney General, State of Hawaii.
Reisig, M. D., Holtfreter, K., & Morash, M. (2006). Assessing recidivism risk across female pathways to crime. Justice Quarterly, 23, 384-405.
Roe-Sepowitz, D. E. (2009). Comparing male and female juveniles charged with homicide: Child maltreatment, substance abuse, and crime details. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(4), 601-617.
Shepherd, S. M., Luebbers, S., & Dolan, M. (2013). Identifying gender differences in an Australian youth offender population. Sage Open, 3(2).
Simpson, S. S., Yahner, J. L., & Dugan, L. (2008). Understanding women’s pathways to jail: Analysing the lives of incarcerated women. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 41, 84-108.
Steffensmeier, D., & Allan, E. (1996). Gender and crime: Toward a gendered theory of female offending. Annual review of Sociology, 22, 459-487.
Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (2015). 2014 Analytic reports on crimes. Seoul: Supreme Prosecutors’Office, Republic of Korea.
The Korean Institute of Justice (2016). The White Paper on Crime 2015. Yongin: The Korean Institute of Justice.
Thompson, A. P., & McGrath, A. (2011). Subgroup differences and implications for contemporary risk-need assessment with juvenile offenders. Law and Human Behavior, 36, 345-355.
U.K. Ministry of Justice. (2009). Statistics on women and the criminal justice system: A Ministry of Justice publication under Section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. London:U.K. Ministry of Justice.
U.S. Department of Justice (2010). Crime in the United States: Uniform crime reports. Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice.
Vandiver, D. M., & Teske Jr., R. (2006). Juvenile female and male sex offenders: A comparison of offender, victim, and judicial processing characteristics. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 50(3), 148-165.
Vincent, G. M., Grisso, T., Terry, B. A., & Banks, S. (2008). Sex and race differences in mental health symptoms in juvenile justice:The MAYSI-2 national meta-analysis. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 47, 282-290.
Wareham, J., & Dembo, R. (2007). A longitudinal study of psychological functioning among juvenile offenders: A latent growth model analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34, 259-273.
White, L. J. (1996). Review of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI): A new psychological test for clinical and forensic assessment. Australian Psychologist, 31, 38-40.
Zagar, R. J., Busch, K. G., Grove, W. M., & Hughes, J. R. (2009). Summary of studies of abused infants and children later homicidal, and homicidal, assaulting later homicidal, and sexual homicidal youth and adults. Psychological Reports, 104, 17-45.