USA - 'Justice by Gender: The Lack of Appropriate Prevention, Diversion and Treatment Alternatives for Girls in the Justice System', American Bar Association & National Bar Association, May 2001 [Pdf 171kb]
Overview of issues relating to the disproportionate rise in numbers of girls in detention in the USA. Contains sections on: The Context of Girls and Delinquency; Girls’ Pathways Into Delinquency; The Need for Developmentally Sound Services; The Need for Further Research; Bias in the Handling of Girls’ Cases; Arrest, Charging and Filing; Detention; The Need for Dispositional Alternatives; A Continuum of Care and Services; Conclusion.

'Suitability of Assessment Instruments for Delinquent Girls', Susan Brumbaugh, Jennifer L. Hardison Walters, and Laura A. Winterfield, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (US Department of Justice), from the 'Girls Study Group Series', October 2009 [Pdf 1.44Mb]
Review determining the extent to which assessment instruments used with at-risk and justice-involved youth are equally appropriate and effective in assessing girls and boys. Includes - amongst other things - review of instruments used prior to sentencing (to inform placement decisions or identify youth who may be appropriate candidates for diversion programs), for substance abuse and mental health. Provides guidelines for practitioners on how to select such instruments.

USA - 'Youth with Mental Health Disorders in the Juvenile Justice System: Results from a Multi-State Prevalence Study' Jennie L. Shufelt & Joseph J. Cocozza, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, June 2006 [Pdf 347kb]
Paper summarising the results of a study described as "the most comprehensive mental health prevalence study to date on youth involved with the juvenile justice system", funded by the US Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Includes findings relevant for mental health, substance abuse and gender.