NCJ Number
25980
Date Published
1975
Length
98 pages
Annotation
THE EXTENT AND TYPE OF FEMALE INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME IN THE U.S. ARE DESCRIBED, RELEVANT STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEMALES IN THE LABOR FORCE AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
IN THE FIRST SECTION, THE LITERATURE ON WOMEN IN CRIME IS REVIEWED, AND MAJOR THEMES IN THE RESEARCH IN THIS AREA ARE SUMMARIZED. THE CURRENT STATUS THAT WOMEN OCCUPY IN SOCIETY AS REPRESENTED BY THE EXTENT AND QUALITY OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE LABOR FORCE, THEIR MARRIAGE AND FERTILITY PATTERNS, AND THEIR INCOMES AND EDUCATION ARE DISCUSSED. WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN CRIME AND THE TREATMENT WOMEN RECEIVE AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS ARE DESCRIBED IN THE SECOND SECTION. THE PROPORTION OF WOMEN TO MEN WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES IS COMPARED, A BREAKDOWN OF THE TYPES OF CRIMES FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IS GIVEN, AND THE PROPORTION OF WOMEN TO MEN WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED IN THE COURTS FOR THE SAME TYPES OF OFFENSES IS REPORTED. THE PROPORTION OF WOMEN SENTENCED TO PRISON IS COMPARED WITH THE PROPORTION OF MEN SENTENCED, AND THE LIKELIHOODS THAT MEN AND WOMEN WILL RECEIVE EQUALLY FAVORABLE PAROLE HEARINGS ARE COMPARED. ALTHOUGH STATISTICS ON PAROLE ARE TOO RECENT TO ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LONGITUDINAL TRENDS, THEY ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THE RELATIVE SUCCESS OF FEMALE AS OPPOSED TO MALE PAROLEES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE TYPES OF OFFENSES, PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORDS, AND HISTORY OF DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE. INTERVIEWS WITH TRIAL COURT CRIMINAL JUDGES AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS CONCERNING THEIR IMAGE OF FEMALE OFFENDERS, THEIR TREATMENT OF WOMEN WHO ARE INVOLVED IN CRIME, AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE ARE SUMMARIZED. AN APPENDIX IS INCLUDED IN WHICH OVERALL CRIME RATES ARE COMPARED WITH FEMALE ARREST RATES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFENSES IN ABOUT 25 NATIONS. (SNI ABSTRACT)