Young women offenders and the challenge for restorative justice.

Source: (2000) In Restorative Justice: Philosophy to Practice, ed. Heather Strang and John Braithwaite, pp. 105-119. Burlington, Vermont, U.S.: Ashgate Publishing Company.

Some attention has been given to gender-specific matters in the application of restorative justice practices, yet in general there is a dearth of theory and research concerning such matters. In this context, Alder focuses on identifying issues to be considered when young women participate in conferences as offenders rather than as victims. Important issues include the following: community values and expectations about girlhood and the implications for decision-making in response to girls’ behavior; the particular nature of girls’ experiences of involvement in the youth justice system; and the question whether juvenile justice workers find girls more difficult to work with, and if so, why. In view of all of this, Alder explores objectives for work with young women in juvenile justice, and she raises a number of issues relating to key concepts of restorative justice.