Is Your Daughter Behaving Dangerously?
We all know the "mean girls" but did you know that teenage girls crime rates are actually increasing at a higher rate than boys?
Read this from the US Department of Justice:
According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from 1991 to 2000, arrests of girls increased more, or decreased less, than those of boys for the same offenses. By 2004, girls accounted for 30 percent of juvenile arrests. This apparent trend raises a number of questions, including whether it reflects an increase in girls' delinquency or changes in society's responses to girls' behavior. To research such issues and provide a sound foundation to guide the development, testing, and implementation of strategies designed to prevent girls' delinquency, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) convened its Girls Study Group in 2004. The creation of the Study Group was the concrete result of OJJDP's intent to conduct a seminal study of girls and delinquency. To find out more, visit their website.
Some girls turn to drugs, others to eating disorders, and others to self-harm or suicide. If your daughter is showing any of these signs, be sure to seek out help. Do not try to handle this on your own. If you believe that your daughter is going to hurt themselves or others and you are not getting through as a parent, you might consider an At-Risk Youth Petition through the courts. Girls are also at a higher risk for being sexually assaulted or trafficked for sex or labor. If you are a parent of a daughter, it is your duty to educate yourself and learn how to educate and protect your child from predators.
The best way is to help her feel worthy, get her connected in the community in a positive way so she will be able to identify and use her gifts and talents. Volunteer, be or get a mentor, visit the local rec centers or the YMCA. Another great resource for parents of young ladies is Girl Scouts. Did you know that Girl Scouts even has a program for girls that have a mother who is incarcerated? It's called Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, be sure to check it out.
Read this from the US Department of Justice:
According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from 1991 to 2000, arrests of girls increased more, or decreased less, than those of boys for the same offenses. By 2004, girls accounted for 30 percent of juvenile arrests. This apparent trend raises a number of questions, including whether it reflects an increase in girls' delinquency or changes in society's responses to girls' behavior. To research such issues and provide a sound foundation to guide the development, testing, and implementation of strategies designed to prevent girls' delinquency, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) convened its Girls Study Group in 2004. The creation of the Study Group was the concrete result of OJJDP's intent to conduct a seminal study of girls and delinquency. To find out more, visit their website.
Some girls turn to drugs, others to eating disorders, and others to self-harm or suicide. If your daughter is showing any of these signs, be sure to seek out help. Do not try to handle this on your own. If you believe that your daughter is going to hurt themselves or others and you are not getting through as a parent, you might consider an At-Risk Youth Petition through the courts. Girls are also at a higher risk for being sexually assaulted or trafficked for sex or labor. If you are a parent of a daughter, it is your duty to educate yourself and learn how to educate and protect your child from predators.
The best way is to help her feel worthy, get her connected in the community in a positive way so she will be able to identify and use her gifts and talents. Volunteer, be or get a mentor, visit the local rec centers or the YMCA. Another great resource for parents of young ladies is Girl Scouts. Did you know that Girl Scouts even has a program for girls that have a mother who is incarcerated? It's called Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, be sure to check it out.