Profiling the Needs of the California Youth Authority's Female Population, 1996

This study was designed to assess the needs and characteristics of the female juvenile offender population in California and to evaluate the existing program structure. The main focus was to conduct a pilot study to test an instrument the researchers had designed for profiling the needs of youthful female offenders in developing a protocol for use by other jurisdictions and agencies working with delinquent female youths. To study the needs and program demands of young female offenders, the researchers conducted a profile survey of 162 randomly-selected women at the Ventura School in the California Youth Authority (CYA) in the summer of 1996. The data are the result of personal interviews using a modified version of the instrument used for a 1995 study of adult female offenders in the California Department of Corrections by the principal investigators. Information was collected on demographics, social and economic background, criminal history, and correctional experiences. Demographic variables include age, race and ethnicity, marital status, and parents' marital status. Variables on social and economic background include religious preference, living situation, education, work history, family relationships, pregnancy history while incarcerated, and family and juvenile history. Criminal history variables cover gang involvement, arrest and sentence information, offense profile, reasons for committing the offense, weapon use, substance abuse history, and personal abuse. Variables on correctional experiences include abuse counseling, HIV testing, correctional programming participation, work experience during incarceration, and California Youth Authority housing assignment.