Status of Females in the Juvenile Justice System Iowa, 2009

Young women in the juvenile justice system present with characteristics and experiences that differentiate them from their male counterparts. As such, the juvenile justice system in Iowa must consider these factors if it is to effectively and efficiently impact recidivism, rehabilitation and public safety. Data reveal the following trends: All youth in the juvenile justice system experience a significantly higher rate of child maltreatment than do youth in the general population. Additionally, young women have a distinctly higher percentage of reported sexual abuse. Young women commit primarily non-violent offenses, with shoplifting and running away being the only two areas where they exceed young men in number. Young women are held in detention for a substantially higher percentage of misdemeanor versus felony offenses than young men. Young women of color, particularly African American females, are far more likely to come into contact with the juvenile justice system. Additionally, arrests of minority females have increased during the same time frame as arrests of Caucasian females have decreased. The general type of offense committed by young women is against public order (i.e. alcohol related violations, disorderly conduct) or property (i.e. shoplifting), though young women with subsequent charges of a violent nature are likely to have had violent offenses initially as well. Historically, young women have been a smaller segment of the juvenile justice population. They remain so today. Consequently, they are easy to overlook. But Iowa’s response to them is no less important. Perhaps, because they are fewer in number, our system can have a true and meaningful influence, with prevention of further penetration into both the juvenile and adult systems being the ultimate goal. The Iowa Task Force on Young Women recommends the following measures to facilitate movement toward that goal: 1. Facilities and programs striving to provide the most effective and efficient services to young women will opt for single gender environments with female responsive programming that includes components to address trauma. 2. All institutions and agencies that work with females involved in the juvenile justice system and which receive state funding should be required to provide annual female responsive training to their employees. Training should be research based, progressive, ongoing and result in an implementation plan. 3. As detention reform proceeds, gender and the disproportionate number of females in detention for misdemeanor offenses must be an integral part of policy and decision making discussions including any recommendations for solutions to be implemented. 4. As research, data and planning progresses related to disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile system, the needs of girls of color be given equal consideration. Specifically, assessment tools must be without race/ethnic bias and they must also be female responsive.

Iowa Department of Human Rights - Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Agency Performance Plan

Annual Report, Agency Performance Plan

Female Juvenile Justice Report, June 1997

Female Juvenile Justice Report from the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women

Iowa Criminal and Juvenile Justice Plan 2003 Update, 2003

This report discusses a number of topics and presents data and other information in response to Iowa Code Section 216A.135’s mandate for an annual Plan Update. It was prepared as an e-document and relies mainly on links to other documents which, when combined, make up the complete report.

Iowa Criminal and Juvenile Justice Plan 2004 Update, 2004

This report discusses a number of topics and presents data and other information in response to Iowa Code Section 216A.135’s mandate for an annual Plan Update. It was prepared as an e-document and relies mainly on links to other documents which, when combined, make up the complete report.

Iowa Criminal and Juvenile Justice Plan 2002 Update, 2002

This report discusses a number of topics and presents data and other information in response to Iowa Code Section 216A.135’s mandate for an annual Plan Update. It was prepared as an e-document and relies mainly on links to other documents which, when combined, make up the complete report. The outline that follows names the issues being presented this year by the CJJPAC and is both a table of contents and a “site-map” for the report.

Iowa Juvenile Crime Prevention Community Grant Fund Outcomes Report and FY 2002 Juvenile Justice Youth Development Program Summary, 2002

This document contains two related, but separate reports. The Juvenile Crime Prevention Community Grant Fund Outcomes Report is a summary of outcomes from services and activities funded through the Juvenile Crime Prevention Community Grant Fund in FY2001. The Juvenile Justice Youth Development Program Summary describes Iowa communities current prevention and sanction programs supported with funding from the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (CJJP) during FY2002.

Juvenile Crime Prevention Community Grant Fund Outcomes Report and FY 2002 Juvenile Justice Youth Development Program Summary, 2002

This document contains two related, but separate reports. The Juvenile Crime Prevention Community Grant Fund Outcomes Report is a summary of outcomes from services and activities funded through the Juvenile Crime Prevention Community Grant Fund in FY 2001. The Juvenile Justice Youth Development Program Summary describes Iowa communities’ current prevention and sanction programs supported with funding from the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (CJJP) during FY 2002.

Long-Range Goals for Iowa's Criminal & Juvenile Justice Systems, 2000

Iowa Code Section 216A.135 requires the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Advisory Council (CJJPAC) to submit a long-range plan for Iowa's justice system to the Governor and General Assembly every five years. The first plan developed after the creation of the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning was issued in 1990 and annually updated through 1994. Since 1992, appropriation law has required the CJJPAC to coordinate their planning activities with those of the Iowa Juvenile Justice Advisory Council (JJAC).

Human Rights Criminal & Juvenile Justice Performance Report, FY 2004

Agency Performance Report

Iowa Criminal and Juvenile Justice Plan 2006 Update

This report discusses a number of topics and presents data and other information in response to Iowa Code Section 216A.135’s mandate for an annual Plan Update. It was prepared as an edocument and relies mainly on links to other documents which, when combined, make up the complete report. The outline that follows names the issues being presented this year by the CJJPAC and is both a table of contents and a “site-map” for the report.

Iowa Department of Human Rights - Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Agency Performance Plan, 2007

Annual Report, Agency Performance Plan

Status of Young Women in the Juvenile Justice System Preliminary Data, 2007

Young women involved in the juvenile justice system present with characteristics and experiences that differentiate them from their male counterparts. As such, the juvenile justice system in Iowa must consider these factors if it is to effectively and efficiently impact recidivism and rehabilitation.

Status of Females in the Juvenile Justice System, 2007

On October 12th 2007, the inaugural Girls’ Summit on females in the juvenile justice system was held. This Summit brought together key decision makers in an exploration of research and data. Those who attended were also asked to make recommendations regarding a course of action. This report represents an effort to improve our response to these young women in Iowa. It highlights pertinent information covered at the Summit as well as resulting conclusions and recommendations. On behalf of the Iowa Gender Specific Services Task Force and the participants of the Girls’ Summit, it is my hope that this report will serve as a road map for necessary improvements as well as a means to reinforce the effective tools that are already in place. There are differences that exist between young women and young men in the juvenile justice system and the efficacy of professionals rests heavily on a better understanding of these differences and how they impact the justice system response.

Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Department of Human Rights Performance Plan, FY 2009

Agency Performance Plan, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Department of Human Rights