Developmental pathways towards delinquency for female adolescents: What can be done

Research, anecdotal observations, and newspaper articles suggest an increase in the rate of violent crimes committed by female adolescents. This dissertation will examine the developmental pathway (risk factors) towards delinquency for females and compare the risk factors to those found among delinquent males. The differences between normal development and the delinquent development for boys and girls will be examined in order to provide an explanation for what to expect in adolescent development and to help practitioners identify when a behavior is problematic. The examination of the differences between normal and delinquent developments will also allow me to critically evaluate the current interventions utilized with the delinquent population. Male and female delinquents are treated identically despite slight differences in the development of and expression of delinquent behavior.