The theoretical framework of this dissertation is at the crossroads of the sociology of juvenile delinquency, social control and gender. Its aim is to identify public institutions’ responses to the delinquency of minor girls. The research method consisted in a field study in the urban area of Grenoble, including police station, courthouse, educative and judiciary services (UEMO Nord and EPEI Corenc of PJJ). Observations and interviews have been made with various professionals within the juvenile criminal justice system (police officers, youth workers and juvenile court judges). Results show an overprotection process of girls. Indeed, they are selected upstream as "minors at risk" by the civil justice (child protection proceedings) and, in the criminal system, they are maintained in institutional homes. Gender-based representations stem out of our investigations, spreading throughout the juvenile criminal justice system. Hence the general background of the criminal selection of juvenile girls appears as "gendered" and reinforces the figures of fragile girls to be protected and dangerous boys requiring correctional action.