In this episode of The Table, Macayla and Katie explore the unique challenges facing girls in the juvenile justice system with special guest Dr. Jodi Peterson, professor at Michigan State University and head of Peterson Research Consultants. While girls make up a growing share of juvenile arrests, their offenses are often nonviolent, and many enter the system due to experiences of trauma, abuse, poverty, and systemic bias—especially girls of color and LGBTQIA+ youth.

Dr. Peterson discusses how the juvenile justice system was historically designed with boys in mind, leading to programs and assessments that often fail to address girls’ needs. The conversation highlights the importance of gender-responsive, trauma-informed programming and the need for improved data collection that reflects the diversity of youth in the system. Tailored approaches that consider gender identity, race, and sexual orientation are key to improving outcomes and ensuring more equitable treatment.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of topics that could be triggering to some. Listener discretion is advised.

Listen to this insightful conversation today at www.miyouthjustice.org/thetable or wherever you find your podcasts!

Related resources:

Read the OJJDP study

Learn more about Dr. Peterson's work

Learn more about our work

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