NCJ Number
183758
Date Published
1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This report provides an account of female criminality in Sweden.
Abstract
During the period 1975-1994 every sixth person suspected of crime in Sweden was a woman. Women were one-quarter of persons suspected of theft, defamation, fraud, and false certification, but only 1 percent of those suspected of a sexual offense. The proportion of women was also small with regard to violent offenses (assault, robbery, sexual violence, violence to a public servant and unlawful threat) and those involving a vehicle (car and cycle theft, traffic offenses). The typical female offense was shoplifting, where women constituted more than one-third of those suspected of the offense. The proportion of suspected women offenders was greater than the average in the 15- to 17-year-old age group and among those over 40. It was especially large among those over 60. There was a generally increased tendency among women to use violence--not only the youngest girls, but also to a considerable extent middle-aged women. The report examines theories as to why the proportion of female violent crime and of crime in general is so small compared with that of men, and why this proportion is increasing.