Chapter 7: Canadian Girls and Crime

Question 1

Intersectionality

Answer 1

A movement away from thinking categorically and toward thinking about the connections and crossroads between demographics, roles, identities of lawbreakers, victims, etc.

Question 2

Trends of Female Offenders

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Characteristics of Female Offenders

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Administrative Offences

Answer 4

Offences against the administration of justice, court-ordered behavioral requirements (ex. complying with curfew, attending mandated programs, bail conditions and probation orders)

Question 5

Net Narrowing

Answer 5

A phenomenon that occurs when youth who have been diverted from the criminal justice system struggle to access adequate resources

Question 6

Gender Gap

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Biopsychosocial Model

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Trauma Informed Approach

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Gender Role Theories

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Social Learning Theory

Answer 10

Primary source of learning is the family

Question 11

Differential Association Theory/Learning Theory

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Social Control Theories

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Power Control Theory

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Strain Theory

Answer 14

Delinquency can be explained as a response to being denied access to socially and conventionally approved opportunities for power and material success

Question 15

General Strain Theory

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Life Course Theory

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Anti-Colonial Theory

Answer 17

Recognizing that colonialism is an ever-present part of our current struggles with Indigenous, racialized, and queer communities

Question 18

Promising Direction: Attending to Intersections

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Gender Sensitive Responses

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Gender Sensitive Approach: Risk Assessment

Answer 21

Assessing complex situations of offenders and making predictions about future criminal and anti-social behavior

Question 22

Mobilizing Political Change

Answer 22

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