NCJ Number
127966
Date Published
1988
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This study profiles a sample of Massachusetts female offenders who have committed street-level offenses (assault, breaking and entering, larceny, etc.) and been placed on probation.
Abstract
The sample consisted of the 1,009 adult women offenders who committed street-level offenses and were subsequently placed on probation between July 1, 1987, and February 29, 1988. The study compared the profile of these female offenders with that of 6,435 male street-level offenders placed on probation during the same period. Ninety percent of the females and 85 percent of the males were on probation supervision for either controlled-substance, property, or violent offenses. Female offenders were generally older than male offenders (28 years old versus 27 years old), and they had their first court appearance later in life. Forty-seven percent of the females and 66 percent of the males had a prior court appearance within the past 5 years. Male offenders tended to abuse alcohol, and female offenders primarily abused drugs. In comparing female offenders among themselves, the study found that female drug offenders tended to be older than females convicted for other offenses. Female drug offenders made their first court appearance later in life (after 24 years old) than did either person or property offenders. Females who committed violent crimes were significantly younger than all other female offenders. Policy implications are drawn from the findings. 33 tables and a 38-item bibliography