NCJ Number
123056
Date Published
1989
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Women are generally believed to be responsible for only a small fraction of sexual crimes, although some argue that the reported incidence of female sex offenders is low due to serious under-reporting.
Abstract
Regardless of the number of female sex offenders, therapists agree that female offenders differ from their male counterparts. Females frequently commit their offense in concert with a male offender who may be a spouse or a boyfriend. Females appear to use violence less frequently than males and are more likely than males to know their victims and/or victimize their own children. Females seem to be less likely than males to have a wide range of deviant sexual behaviors. A typology of female sex offenders has been developed that identifies three distinct offender categories: teacher/lover, predisposed, and male-coerced. Female treatment issues involve training in assertiveness and independence and developing treatment models that incorporate developmental, cultural, and sex role issues regarding females. 26 references.