Chapter 7: Canadian Girls and Crime Flashcards
Intersectionality
A movement away from thinking categorically and toward thinking about the connections and crossroads between demographics, roles, identities of lawbreakers, victims, etc.
Trends of Female Offenders
Rarely develop crime specialties
Downward trend of violence
Increase in administrative and minor offences
Delinquency of women is exaggerated through media despite the decreasing acts
Women are viewed as folk devils and inflict false moral panic
Characteristics of Female Offenders
Higher risk of mental disorders
Higher risk of substance abuse disorder
Trauma from early in life
Many can be victims as well as offenders
Physical, sexual abuse
Administrative Offences
Offences against the administration of justice, court-ordered behavioral requirements (ex. complying with curfew, attending mandated programs, bail conditions and probation orders)
Net Narrowing
A phenomenon that occurs when youth who have been diverted from the criminal justice system struggle to access adequate resources
Gender Gap
A term that acknowledges the persistent and well-documented difference in the arrest rates for males and females, with males committing significantly more crime than females
Biopsychosocial Model
An approach that addresses interdependent and bidirectional biological, psychological, and social risk factors related to the development of behavioral problems that are implicated in females’ involvement with the justice system
Trauma Informed Approach
An approach to practice that incorporates an understanding of how experiences of acute and complex trauma shape the lives, identities, and perspectives of the people we respond to throughout the human services and the legal system. This approach involves implementing steps that avoid re-traumatizing individuals and support wellness, recovery, and resilience
Gender Role Theories
Explanations of delinquent and criminal behavior that focus on the role that gender socialization plays in the lives of young people who are involved with the criminal justice system
Social Learning Theory
Primary source of learning is the family
Differential Association Theory/Learning Theory
Techniques, motives, and values that facilitate criminal behavior are transmitted through social and anti-social learning opportunities that arise from close association with others who engage in delinquency and crime
Social Control Theories
The capacity of all human beings to engage in deviance and crime
Self-control in a positive and socially conventional environment is essential in containing delinquency and crime
Positive bonds with family, peers, commitments, etc, are also important
Power Control Theory
Suggests patriarchal families are structured such that they support and provide greater access for male risk taking and delinquent behavior while keeping girls criminal involvement in check via tighter social restrictions and controls
Strain Theory
Delinquency can be explained as a response to being denied access to socially and conventionally approved opportunities for power and material success
General Strain Theory
Explains the overall differences in female and male rates of crime in terms of the differences in types of strain to which females and males are subjected
Life Course Theory
Examines how an individual’s offending pattern varies over time at different age and role transitions
Focuses on onset, persistence, and desistence of criminal behavior, severity and nature of crime, risk factors that emerge, etc
Anti-Colonial Theory
Recognizing that colonialism is an ever-present part of our current struggles with Indigenous, racialized, and queer communities
Promising Direction: Attending to Intersections
Discontinue the use of stereotypes and simplistic theories
Eradicate the use of stereotypical punitive policies and inhumane practices
Stop ignoring girls fundamental requirements for survival, safety, and well-being
Gender Sensitive Responses
Responses by the criminal justice system that recognize that the pathways to criminal involvement and the needs of female offenders are different from those of male offenders. These approaches include risk assessment, treatments, and supervision
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Useful with girls convicted of an offence who have serious mental illness, trauma from abuse, and heavy substance use
Therapeutically based intervention that helps clients to achieve cognitive and emotional self-knowledge and self-regulation and strengthens their ability to deal with stress and trauma
Gender Sensitive Approach: Risk Assessment
Assessing complex situations of offenders and making predictions about future criminal and anti-social behavior
Mobilizing Political Change
Institute policies and practices to reverse systemic and personal discrimination
Demand gender and racial parity in resources
Keep neo-liberal and neo-conservative crime-control policies in check
Recognize and confront the colonial underpinnings of our systems that disproportionately oppress Indigenous, racialized and LGBTQ+ communities
