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Tackling the growing problem with girls
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May 3, 2002
A dramatic increase in the number of girls committing crimes and landing themselves in jail has psychologists, mental health workers and criminologists mystified and worried. Many of them are gathering to tackle the growing problem with girls at a two-day conference, May 10 and 11 at Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. According to Statistics Canada, charges for violent crimes among females have risen 127 percent in the last 10 years.
Candice Odgers, a Simon Fraser University criminology graduate, and SFU psychology professor Marlene Moretti have organized the upcoming conference to uncover the causes and solutions to girl violence. Odgers, who is now pursuing her doctorate in psychology and law at the University of Virginia, says experts trying to make sense of girl violence are working in a vacuum. "Historically, psychological and criminological research has largely ignored female youth. We know very little about the factors leading young women to become involved in aggression and violence," says Odgers. "Arguably, we know even less about effective programming and intervention alternatives."
Twenty North American experts will present empirical research on high risk factors for aggression and violence among young girls at the conference Aggressive and Violent Girls: Contributing Factors and Intervention Strategies. They’ll also discuss overall rates of violent female crime and anecdotal evidence on treatment and intervention programs.
Odgers will distill information and statistics from several published studies. Moretti will paint a portrait of the typical delinquent and conduct-disordered girl. "She has generally experienced more severe maltreatment, especially sexual abuse, than boys with comparable behaviour problems. She has a greater scope of mental health problems and a more negative self-image," says Moretti.
SFU criminologist Margaret Jackson will discuss research on the social context of aggression and the way race and gender impact the experience of and involvement in aggression. "This kind of study," says Jackson, "will also further understanding of how policies and legislation impact the ability of racially marginalized girls to integrate into the larger society."
A division of the American Psychology-Law Society will incorporate contributions from the conference into a new book. Says Odgers, "We hope the conference will encourage the creation of guiding principles and structured plans for dealing with girl violence." The deadline for conference registration is May 8. See http://www.sfu.ca/mhlp
CONTACT:
Marlene Moretti, 604.291.3604; moretti@sfu.ca
Candice Odgers, clo8d@virginia.edu
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035
Candice Odgers, a Simon Fraser University criminology graduate, and SFU psychology professor Marlene Moretti have organized the upcoming conference to uncover the causes and solutions to girl violence. Odgers, who is now pursuing her doctorate in psychology and law at the University of Virginia, says experts trying to make sense of girl violence are working in a vacuum. "Historically, psychological and criminological research has largely ignored female youth. We know very little about the factors leading young women to become involved in aggression and violence," says Odgers. "Arguably, we know even less about effective programming and intervention alternatives."
Twenty North American experts will present empirical research on high risk factors for aggression and violence among young girls at the conference Aggressive and Violent Girls: Contributing Factors and Intervention Strategies. They’ll also discuss overall rates of violent female crime and anecdotal evidence on treatment and intervention programs.
Odgers will distill information and statistics from several published studies. Moretti will paint a portrait of the typical delinquent and conduct-disordered girl. "She has generally experienced more severe maltreatment, especially sexual abuse, than boys with comparable behaviour problems. She has a greater scope of mental health problems and a more negative self-image," says Moretti.
SFU criminologist Margaret Jackson will discuss research on the social context of aggression and the way race and gender impact the experience of and involvement in aggression. "This kind of study," says Jackson, "will also further understanding of how policies and legislation impact the ability of racially marginalized girls to integrate into the larger society."
A division of the American Psychology-Law Society will incorporate contributions from the conference into a new book. Says Odgers, "We hope the conference will encourage the creation of guiding principles and structured plans for dealing with girl violence." The deadline for conference registration is May 8. See http://www.sfu.ca/mhlp
CONTACT:
Marlene Moretti, 604.291.3604; moretti@sfu.ca
Candice Odgers, clo8d@virginia.edu
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035