NCJ Number
68202
Journal
CUADERNOS PANAMENOS DE CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 1 Issue: 3 AND 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1974-1975) Pages: 149-167
Date Published
1975
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE PHENOMENON OF FEMALE DELINQUENCY IN PANAMA IS VIEWED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME AS A WHOLE. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN OFFENDERS, AIMED AT SALVAGING NEEDED HUMAN RESOURCES, ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS STUDY DESCRIBES THE HETEROGENEOUS SOCIOCULTURAL AND THE ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF PANAMA AS A DEVELOPING COUNTRY, WITH ATTENDANT PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL DYNAMICS, PROPER USE OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AND MARGINALITY OF SOME INDIVIDUALS. A BRIEF HISTORY OF FEMALE DELINQUENCY REVEALS CHANGING CRIME PATTERNS. AT THE TIME PROSTITUTION WAS CRIMINALIZED IN 1951, THIS OFFENSE ACCOUNTED FOR THE MAJORITY OF FEMALE ARRESTS AND SENTENCES; THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FEMALE OFFENSES NOW ARE COMMITTED IN CONNECTION WITH DRUG ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING, AS WELL AS AGAINST PERSONS. FEMALE CRIMINALS ARE DETERMINED TO BE SOURCES OF MAJOR SOCIAL CONFLICTS ORIGINATING IN A FAILURE TO FULFILL THEIR FEMININE ROLES AS MOTHERS AND MEMBERS OF SOCIETY WITH SPECIFIC TASKS TO PERFORM. A FORMER FIRST LADY OF PANAMA SPONSORED A FEMALE REHABILITATION CENTER IN PANAMA CITY. RUN BY MEMBERS OF A WOMEN'S RELIGIOUS ORDER AND EMPLOYING A FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKER AND A PART-TIME MEDICAL TEAM (CONSISTING OF A PSYCHIATRIST, PSYCHOLOGIST, GENERAL PRACTITIONER, A DENTIST, AND A NURSE), THIS CENTER OFFERS REMEDIAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN DRESSMAKING, HAIRDRESSING, AND OTHER OCCUPATIONS. THE FEMALE INMATES ARE GIVEN A VERY INTENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND EVALUATION (E.G., WECHSLER IQ TEST, ROHRSCHACH TEST, MINNESOTA MULTIPLE PERSONALITY INVENTORY). THEY ARE OFFERED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. STATISTICAL DATA ON THE FEMALE REHABILITATION CENTER INMATES AND THE CENTER ITSELF SHOW THAT ITS PHYSICAL FACILITIES ARE ADEQUATE BUT ITS PROGRAMS ARE PIECEMEAL AND INCOMPLETE. AN INTEGRAL APPROACH TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE INMATES, ALL SOCIALLY HANDICAPPED WOMEN, MUST BE ADOPTED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY WITH 17 ENTRIES IS APPENDED.