Breaking New Ground on the First Coast: Examining Girls’ Pathways into the Juvenile Justice System Vanessa Patino Lydia, MPA, and Aubrey Moore, MSW October 2015 1 Table of Contents List of Tables and Figures ........................................................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................................................................5 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................................7 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................................11 The Data ...........................................................................................................................................................................................11 Background Research and Pathways Theories ................................................................................................................13 Risk Factors .....................................................................................................................................................................................13 Theories............................................................................................................................................................................................14 Gendered Pathways for Girls ..............................................................................................................................................14 Girls’ Behaviors As a Result to Trauma ..............................................................................................................................15 Intersectionality ...................................................................................................................................................................16 Relational Cultural Theory .................................................................................................................................................17 Policy Center’s Approach to Research: Methodology ....................................................................................................18 Research Questions ........................................................................................................................................................................18 Process for Conducting the Research ..........................................................................................................................................18 Data Analyses ..................................................................................................................................................................................19 Participants ......................................................................................................................................................................................19 Limitations ......................................................................................................................................................................................19 Findings: Girls Share Common Life Experiences and Pathways into Juvenile Justice System .........................................20 Extent of Involvement in the Juvenile Justice System ................................................................................................................20 Reasons for Commitment ....................................................................................................................................................20 Life Experiences ..............................................................................................................................................................................21 Girls’ Resiliency ....................................................................................................................................................................22 Living Situations ..................................................................................................................................................................22 Grief, Loss, and Traumatic Events ......................................................................................................................................23 Victimization .......................................................................................................................................................................23 Education Experiences ........................................................................................................................................................24 Treatment by Community and Systems..............................................................................................................................24 Ethnic Identity and Gender Discrimination ......................................................................................................................25 Specialized Needs ...........................................................................................................................................................................29 Findings: Girls’ Perceptions of Services (and People) Most Helpful in the Local Community ........................................28 Services Before Incarceration .......................................................................................................................................................28 Services During DJJ Residential Placement ................................................................................................................................28 Services Desired After Incarceration ...........................................................................................................................................29 Supportive People Along the Continuum ...................................................................................................................................30 2 Girls’ Identification of Who Can Make a Positive Difference...................................................................................................31 Findings: Girls’ Recommendations for Improving Systems for Girls Across the Continuum .........................................33 Child Welfare / Child Protection System ....................................................................................................................................33 Court Processes ..............................................................................................................................................................................33 Detention .........................................................................................................................................................................................34 Probation .........................................................................................................................................................................................34 Residential Placement ....................................................................................................................................................................35 Recommendations for People Who Work with Girls ................................................................................................................36 Discussion and Implications .................................................................................................................................................38 What’s Happening to Girls in Our Community .........................................................................................................................38 Critical Supports for Girls in the Community ....................................................................................................................40 Failures of Community ........................................................................................................................................................40 Critical Gaps in Services ................................................................................................................................................................40 Services for Girls Who Are Homeless ..................................................................................................................................41 Services for Girls with Trauma and Extensive Loss ...........................................................................................................41 Services for Girls and Families in Crisis .............................................................................................................................41 Services for Girls Abusing Substances: Prevention and Intervention ................................................................................42 Services for Increasing Girls’ Connection and Safety in Community ................................................................................42 Conclusion: What We Can Do to Prevent Juvenile Justice System Involvement ...............................................................44