Britain’s young women are committing nearly 40% more crimes than 6 years ago, and they’re beginning to catch up with boys in the violence and theft rates. Filmed over six months, The Trouble With Girls: Jailbirds tells the stories of two of the young women behind these statistics, whose lives are stuck in the criminal justice system.

20 year old Shona from Doncaster, and 17 year old Abbie from York are finding it difficult to stay clear of the criminal justice system. Both have been arrested dozens of times and have already been imprisoned three times each. This powerful observational documentary begins as Shona is coming to the end of her probation period, and when Abbie is released from a Young Offenders’ Institute and moves into a hostel. Both girls want to go straight and sort their lives out, but it's not as easy as either hope.