Girls are the fastest growing segment of the juvenile justice population. The national picture shows that crime rates are decreasing for both girls and boys, but the rate of decrease has been slower for girls. Nationally, since 1997, incarceration for boys has decreased 18% compared to only 8% for girls. However, in 14 states the female juvenile rate of incarceration has increased more than 30% since 1997. Nationally, girls make up 15% of the incarcerated youth population and as much as 34% in some states. States and local jurisdictions are in need of gender-responsive
interventions to reverse the escalating trends of girls entering into the system.

Girls are the fastest growing segment of the juvenile justice population. The national picture shows that crime rates are decreasing for both girls and boys, but the rate of decrease has been slower for girls. Nationally, since 1997, incarceration for boys has decreased 18% compared to only 8% for girls. However, in 14 states the female juvenile rate of incarceration has increased more than 30% since 1997. Nationally, girls make up 15% of the incarcerated youth population and as much as 34% in some states. States and local jurisdictions are in need of gender-responsive interventions to reverse the escalating trends of girls entering into the system.