A Comparison of Risk Factors Between Incarcerated and Nonincarcerated Female Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study provides a comparative analysis between female juvenile offenders with a lesser offense who attend an alternative day treatment program and those girls with a more serious offense who were sentenced to a residential treatment facility. Anonymous descriptive data were obtained from the closed cases of clients from the PACE Center for Girls (n=47), an alternative school setting for at-risk girls, and the Northside Mental Health Hospital—Girls Intensive Residential Learning Services Program (n=67). The mean age was 17 years old. Given that the statistically significant data focused primarily on physical and mental health, it is proposed that communities could decrease the exorbitant cost of residential treatment by providing access to adequate physical and mental health services to the female juvenile offenders at day treatment facilities, including health education. Additionally, increased access to health education and screening in schools and community settings might reduce the number of adolescents who require these treatments. These findings may provide valuable information for practitioners, policy makers, health educators, and communities regarding the design and implementation of female juvenile offender programs.