The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Girls in Juvenile Justice Systems: A Coun
A recent study has shown that LGBTQ youth are disproportionately represented and incarcerated in the juvenile justice system compared to heteronormative counterparts. “ Although they represent approximately 6% of the youth population, it is estimated that this group makes up 13% to 15% of youth in juvenile justice systems, a number that often surprises juvenile justice professionals.” The majority of the juvenile justice system does not accommodate or provide support to this unique subgroup of juvenile offenders. A study published by Holsinger and Hodge in 2016 examined “the challenges for staff, for facilities, and for the girls, as well as considered staff recommendations for changes in policies or programs that are needed to support girls who identify as LGBT.”
One area I found particularly interesting in this study was when staff were asked if they had any recommendations for the policies and procedures in place to better accommodate their LGBTQ youth. “The most common responses centered on the provision of “good” staff training. “Bad” training that had been provided in the past was referenced in several of the interviews. For example, one participant explained:
"The instructor seemed to harp a lot on lesbians, and the way she talked about it it made it sound like in dealing with it, you had to point out that’s a terrible bad thing, like it was a negative thing. How do you deal with this negative thing, and I don’t think we deal with it, I mean it hasn’t come [up in] my groups that I think of at the facility, I don’t think we deal with it like that at all.”
Another staff member commented on the counseling of LGBTQ youth in these programs stating, “Maybe counseling focused towards that, just so they can talk about the frustrations they’re having being there, or just they’re experimenting, or you know, stuff like that. Maybe some special counseling for them. Not that they’re wrong, but somebody for them to talk to, to support them.”
The role of counselors in the juvenile justice system is paramount. Unfortunately funding, lack of resources, overcrowding, and the negative stigma of working with incarcerated youth keeps counselors from helping out in many cases. There are not enough specialized resources for LGBTQ or other minority youth in the justice system. As a counselor-in-training I could see myself advocating for change in this area and trying to mobilize a team of counselors, policymakers, criminal justice officials, and politicians to make this system better.
Resource
Holsinger, K., & Hodge, J. P. (2016). The experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender girls in juvenile justice systems. Feminist criminology, 11(1), 23-47.
