Peer relations and the female juvenile delinquent : a study of the nature and extent of the female juvenile delinquent's involvement with peers

Abstract

This study explores the nature and extent of the female juvenile delinquent’s involvement with peers. The particular concern of the study is whether the female delinquent experiences peer relations prior to being institutionalized. It is an individual thesis written as part of a study of female juvenile delinquents undertaken by two students of the 1969 class of the Maritime School of Social Work. Nine female juvenile delinquents who comprised the senior population of the Nova Scotia School for Girls in Truro on December 17, 1968, were interviewed with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire. Additional information was obtained from case files. Pertinent data was then examined for indications of peer relations. It was found that female juvenile delinquents do experience peer relations and in some instances these are close relationships. It was also found that those who have close relationships with peers tend to be the girls who are group members. It was concluded that further research seems appropriate to more closely examine these findings, as this is somewhat contrary to the popular stereotype of the female juvenile delinquent.