Female Offenders Research Articles

Examining the Decline in Gender-Specific Youth Offending Since the 1990s: A Decomposition Analysis of Two Cohorts

This study compares gender-specific offending in two cohorts from different historical eras (early 1990s vs. late 2010s). Using KBO decomposition analysis with MTF 12th-grade data ( N = 17,102), the study analyzes changes in social bonds, routine activities, and motivation for crime across genders, assessing their associations with reductions in gender-specific offending. Results suggest consistent behavioral changes across genders. The declines in unstructured socializing and alcohol use are the two most important characteristic changes contributing to the reductions in both male and female offending, but their effect sizes vary across genders. Moreover, the decomposition results underscore that effect changes across cohorts also matter in understanding the gender-specific crime decline, an aspect often overlooked in prior crime trend literature.

An Exploration of Human and Social Capital Factors of Desistance for Female Offenders in Singapore

This study applies qualitative methods to understand factors that are relevant for desistance in women. The narratives of 12 women living in Singapore and in the community for the past five years were studied to uncover pathways to desistance. Using the concepts of Human and Social Capital adapted from the Good Lives Model, we found that the majority of women in this sample indicated values and internal capacities, self-efficacy, identity and connectedness to their religion as crucial to their continued stay in the community; congruent with the literature in North American studies. Additionally, all women mentioned their social capital as an important factor for recovery, indicating factors such as positive relationships and external support from stakeholders. Overall, this study illuminated several pathways that offer a deeper understanding of desistance for women exiting the criminal justice system.

Assessing the Gender-Neutral Claim of Self-Control and Offending: A Meta-Analysis

While low self-control is one of the strongest predictors of offending, scholars do not agree whether the theory is gendered or gender neutral. This study used hierarchal meta-analytic methods to take stock of the self-control literature, focusing specifically on all-male and all-female samples. The analysis included 1,282 effect size estimates (ESEs) nested in 244 individual studies which used 169 unique datasets. Moderator analyses examined potential differences depending on sample and offense characteristics, measurement of self-control, and included controls in multivariate models. While mean ESEs did not differ significantly for males and females, suggesting that the effect between self-control and offending is similar, once moderator analyses were conducted, differences emerged in female offense type and measurement. This suggests that while self-control can explain both male and female offending, there may be important gendered risk factors that are also influential.

Exploring Factors Related to the Process of Desistance from Crime: A Qualitative Study of Females in the UK

ABSTRACT Less is known about the process of desistance from crime for females within the criminal justice system. The current study explored the views and experiences in a sample of adult female offenders in the UK. Ten women took part in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The following themes were identified: Skills and Attributes; Support; Purpose in Life; Risk Factors; and Consequences. The findings provide support for existing theories of desistance including cognitive transformation theory, social control and identity theory of desistance. The findings add to the growing evidence in the field of desistance from crime in female offenders.

Accuracy, Bias, and Overgeneralization: Perceived Aggression Guides Threat Detection and Punishment of Female Criminal Offenders

Accuracy, Bias, and Overgeneralization: Perceived Aggression Guides Threat Detection and Punishment of Female Criminal Offenders

Evaluation of whether commonly used risk assessment tools are applicable to women in forensic psychiatric institutions

ObjectiveBy providing a structured assessment of specific risk factors, risk assessment tools allow statements to be made about the likelihood of future recidivism in people who have committed a crime. These tools were originally developed for and primarily tested in men and are mainly based on the usual criminological background of men. Despite significant progress in the last decade, there is still a lack of empirical research on female offenders, especially female forensic psychiatric inpatients. To improve prognosis in female offenders, we performed a retrospective study to compare the predictive quality of the following risk assessment tools: PCL-R, LSI-R, HCR-20 v3, FAM, and VRAG-R. MethodData were collected from the information available in the medical files of 525 female patients who had been discharged between 2001 and 2017. We examined the ability of the tools to predict general and violent recidivism by comparing the predictions with information from the Federal Central Criminal Register. ResultsOverall, the prediction instruments had moderate to good predictive performance, and the study confirmed their general applicability to female forensic psychiatric patients. ConclusionThe LSI-R proved to be particularly valid for general recidivism, and both, LSI-R and HCR-20 v3, for violent recidivism.

Understanding the Characteristics and Motivations of Female Sexual Offenders: A Systematic Review

Sexual offenses are considered among the most egregious crimes in modern society. While some information is available in the public sphere, most popular conceptualizations of female sexual offenders are more heavily influenced by mythology and popular culture than science. Nonetheless, research helps further identify the characteristics of those who commit these crimes and their relation to those they victimize. This systematic review has been conducted to collect data on female sexual offenders. The initial literature search yielded 5,344 potential articles, 16 of which met the review’s eligibility criteria. The data organized from these articles provide this phenomenon's most recent state of science and provide a detailed picture of these women's identities, along with possible developmental and behavioral trajectories. Findings suggest extensive trauma histories and problematic boundary development in personal and familial relationships are critical factors for consideration--data that doesn't necessarily align with portrayals of these women in popular culture.

Examining Sex- and Sexuality-Based Bias in Punitive Attitudes Toward Offenders Convicted of Intimate Partner Crimes: A Vignette Experiment

This experimental vignette study used nationally representative survey data ( n = 841) to examine the effects of perpetrator sex and sexuality and victim sex on simulated juror punitivity and sentencing recommendations for individuals convicted of aggravated assault and domestic abuse. Results show participants recommended longer sentences and higher fines for male than for female offenders, and for those who victimized women than for those who victimized men, suggesting the effects of jurorbias on punitive attitudes are influenced by offender and victim sex. However, the effects of offender sexuality were insignificant in modeling. Path analysis showed that sex differences found in baseline models were partially explained by stigmatization (i.e., perceptions of dangerousness, fatalism blame, and social distance) hypothetical jurors attached to offenders.

Sex and gender differences in the Italian forensic psychiatric population: a residences for the execution of security measures study

Although sex and gender differences are well-known in psychiatry, their research in the forensic psychiatric population is still limited. This study is aimed at bridging this gap by examining gender-specific factors and treatment needs among forensic psychiatric patients who are highly dangerous. By retrospectively analyzing data from a 1-year observational study on the Italian Residences for the Execution of Security Measures (REMS) patients (n = 730), we compared the main sociodemographic, clinical, and criminological variables between n = 80 female and n = 650 male patients. Female offenders exhibited a higher prevalence of personality (p < 0.001) and depressive disorders (p < 0.001), as well as more severe crimes leading to REMS admission, notably homicide or attempted homicide (p < 0.05). Furthermore, female offenders had a less frequent history of substance abuse (p < 0.001) than male offenders. Despite these differences, there was no evidence of gender-based differences in different sociodemographic and clinical parameters. This study highlights gender differences in forensic psychiatric patients and underscores the importance of nuanced assessment for implementing tailored interventions in forensic psychiatric care.

Gendered Realities: Reforming Juvenile Justice in India

For the past few decades, the juvenile justice system in India has shifted from a rehabilitative to a retributive paradigm, leading researchers to become increasingly interested in the gendered implications of paradigm change that may exacerbate problems of young offenders, especially females. The current article explores the question of how social attitudes, institutional prejudices, and intersectional identities affect the ways in which female offenders are perceived and treated in India. The framework for the current study includes theoretical concepts of rehabilitation, retribution, and feminist theory. The use of secondary analysis and the description of policy changes and historical context studies are included in the research. Employing a data-driven analysis based on a combination of case studies, quantitative data, and inter-state comparison, the research reveals that female offenders face systemicinstitutional and individual problems, including re-victimization, trauma, and inadequate access to quality rehabilitation services. This article argues for genderresponsive and intersectional juvenile justice policies and redirects attention to rehabilitation available results for future policy and research initiatives

TRAUMA, CRIME, AND JUSTICE: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES AND RECIDIVISM

This qualitative study critically examines the intricate interplay between trauma, structural inequalities, and recidivism within the criminal justice system. By synthesizing secondary data from seminal works, the research explores how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) influence criminal behavior and contribute to patterns of recidivism globally. The study highlights the often-overlooked gendered dimensions of trauma, emphasizing the unique challenges faced by female offenders and the role of reintegration support in mitigating recidivism. It delves into the systemic impacts of societal institutions, reflecting elements of human evolutionary history and how these perpetuate trauma and anger within Western criminal justice systems. Additionally, the research investigates the influence of personality traits on criminal behavior, shaped by both genetic and environmental factors. The transformative potential of restorative justice diversion is explored as a structural health intervention aimed at addressing trauma and reducing recidivism. The findings advocate for a comprehensive approach to justice reform that prioritizes healing, rehabilitation, and equity, challenging conventional punitive measures and promoting a more humane and effective response to crime. This study contributes to the broader discourse on crime and justice, offering insights that inform holistic interventions within the criminal justice system.

What if Marquis de Sade Was a Woman? New Evidence of Sex Differences in Behavioral Manifestation of Sadism.

This study aims to explore the behavioral manifestation of sadism in females involved in sexual crimes. The sample includes 24 female sex offenders for which sadism was assessed with the SeSaS. To conduct a gender-based comparison analysis, we conducted a random selection of 100 sadistic male offenders. Bivariate comparisons and multidimensional scaling analysis were used to determine whether behavioral manifestation and dimensions of sadism are different in female sex offenders. Results showed that sadism in women manifests itself differently from male offenders and practical implications are discussed.

Australian news media portrayals of filicide: depictions of mental health and the flawed mother trope

In reporting cases of filicide, the news media often relies on dominant cultural discourses that situate offenders within expected gender roles. This stereotypical framing can influence public perception of offenders and amplify outdated gendered expectations. This paper examines the portrayal of male and female filicide offenders, with a focus on depictions of mental health and the ‘flawed mother’ trope. The study drew from a sample of 103 Australian news media articles published between 2004 and 2021. Qualitative media analysis was used to examine tone and content, and to explore the gendered cultural lens through which offenders can be portrayed. The study addresses a gap in the literature by focusing on filicide and news media in Australia. The findings largely confirm that news media coverage of filicide perpetuates key cultural norms and gendered expectations of parenthood. The ‘flawed mother’ narrative, depictions of mental health issues, and a focus on parenthood were prevalent for female offenders. For male offenders there was general disconnect with their role as a parent. The findings provide a valuable insight into differential news media coverage of male and female parents who kill their children.

Association between socioeconomic and motherhood characteristics with receiving community-based treatment services among justice-involved young female drug users: a retrospective cohort study in Taiwan

BackgroundDrug-involved individuals who contact treatment services in Taiwan are mostly driven by criminal justice systems either as an alternative or adjunct to criminal sanctions for a drug offence. With a focus on justice-involved young female drug users, the present study examines the extent to which socioeconomic and motherhood characteristics are associated with receiving deferred prosecution, a scheme diverting drug offenders to community-based addiction treatment.MethodsWe identified a cohort of 5869 women under the age of 30 arrested for using Schedule II drugs (primarily amphetamine-like stimulants) from the 2011–2017 National Police Criminal Records in Taiwan. Information concerning socioeconomic characteristics, pregnancy and live birth history, and deferred prosecution was obtained through linkage with the 2006–2019 National Health Insurance, birth registration, and deferred prosecution datasets. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the association with stratification by recidivism status.ResultsWithin six months of arrest, 21% of first-time offenders (n = 2645) received deferred prosecution and 23% received correction-based rehabilitation; the corresponding estimates for recidivists (n = 3224) were 6% and 15%, respectively. Among first-time offenders, low/unstable income was associated with lower odds of deferred prosecution (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.88). For recidivists, those with low/unstable income (aOR = 1.58) or unemployment (aOR = 1.58) had higher odds of correction-based rehabilitation; being pregnant at arrest was linked with reduced odds of deferred prosecution (aOR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.71) and correction-based rehabilitation (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.77).ConclusionsFor the young women arrested for drug offences, disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions were generally unfavored by the diversion to treatment in the community. Childbearing upon arrest may lower not only the odds of receiving medical treatment but also correctional intervention. The criminal prosecution policy and process should be informed by female drug offenders’ need for treatment and recovery.

Differences between criminal offender versus non-offender female patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder: a retrospective cohort study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference between offender female patients (OFS) and non-offender female patients (NOFS) with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD).The patients in this study were admitted to the university psychiatry in Zurich Switzerland between 1982 and 2016. Demography, psychopathology, comorbidity, and treatment differences were analyzed using binary statistics to compare 31 OFS and 29 matching NOFS with SSD. The Fisher's exact test was used for categorical data variables in small size samples and the Mann-Whitney-U-Test for nonparametric test variables, adjusted with theBenjamini and Hochberg method.The results indicate that the NOFS were cognitively more impaired, they were more likely to have had antipsychotic drugs prescribed (NOFS; 100%, OFS: 71%, OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.13-1.77, p=0.022) and their medication compliance was higher (NOFS: 84.6%, OFS: 4.5%, OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.00-0.08, p=0.000). In contrast, the OFS had completed compulsory school less oftenand the were observed to be more often homeless and socially isolated (OFS: 72.4%, NOFS: 34.6%, OR 4.96, 95% CI 1.58-15.6, p=0.026), self-disorders (OFS: 51.6%, NOFS: 11.1%, OR 8.53, 95% CI 2.12-34.32, p=0.011), delusions (OFS: 96.8%, NOFS: 63%, OR 17.65, 95% CI 2.08-149.99, p=0.014) and substance use disorder (51.6%, OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09-0.85, p=0.039). Clinicians treating female offender patients with SSD should focusmore on the treatment for substance use disorder, medication and early recognition of the illness for preventative purposes.

Risk and desistance factors for female acquisitive offending: a systematic review

PurposeThis systematic review sought to examine the research body on acquisitive offending among female offenders, specifically exploring what factors may take females closer towards engaging in acquisitive offending and what factors may support desistance from this behaviour.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review was conducted, using the recommended guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. A total of 8,129 initial articles were identified from the search terms, 77 articles were deemed suitable to meet the inclusion criteria and are explored in the results section. Papers were screened for quality appraisal and risk of bias.FindingsTen factors were identified that took females closer towards offending. Five factors were identified that took females away from offending. Based on the findings, four typologies of female acquisitive offenders were identified: short-term orientation (adolescent); mental health orientation; life-course persistent (theft); and acquisitive diversity (including robbery and burglary).Research limitations/implicationsFuture research would benefit from exploring a more rich understanding of the mechanisms that underpin why females engage in acquisitive offending and what factors contribute towards their desistance. A wider range of bio-psycho-social factors, which may increase the risk of acquisitive offending, should also be considered in future research alongside ways in which interventions may be gender-responsive.Originality/valueThis review provides insight into the differing functions and typologies of female acquisitive offending. Interventions for each of these typologies are considered within the review.

Childhood maltreatment, shame, and self-esteem: an exploratory analysis of influencing factors on criminal behavior in juvenile female offenders

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the relationships between childhood maltreatment, shame, and self-esteem among juvenile female offenders and to explore the potential influencing factors on their criminal behavior.MethodsUsing a stratified cluster sampling method, 1,227 juvenile female offenders from 11 provinces in China were surveyed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and a self-developed Shame Questionnaire for Juvenile Offenders. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, chi-square tests, t-tests, and structural equation modeling with mediation analysis.Results(1) Childhood maltreatment have a significant potential influencing factors on criminal behavior; (2) Childhood maltreatment was positively correlated with self-esteem(β = 0.351, p < 0.001); (3) shame (β = 0.042, p < 0.001) mediate the relationship between Childhood maltreatment and self-esteem (childhood maltreatment → shame → self-esteem (95% Cl: 0.033, 0.052)).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that childhood maltreatment is a significant predictor of criminal behavior among juvenile female offenders. childhood maltreatment can directly influence of self-esteem, which can also affect juvenile female offenders’self-esteem indirectly through shame. The findings suggest that shame are important variables that mediate the effect of the juvenile female offenders’childhood maltreatment on their self-esteem.

Criminal record and employability in Ghana: A vignette experimental study

AbstractUsing an experimental vignette design, the study investigates the effects of criminal records on the hiring decisions of a convenience sample of 221 human resource (HR) managers in Ghana. The HR managers were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes depicting job seekers of different genders and criminal records: male with and without criminal record, female with and without criminal record. The evidence shows that a criminal record reduces employment opportunities for female offenders but not for their male counterparts. Additionally, HR managers are willing to offer interviews to job applicants, irrespective of their criminal records, if they expect other managers to hire ex‐convicts. The implications of these findings are discussed.

PRINT® Survey as an Opportunity-Reduction Supervision Tool: Outcomes for Justice-Involved Individuals on Supervised Release

Using an environmental corrections and opportunity-reduction framework, this study examined whether offender relapse, new crimes and revocation outcomes would improve if supervision officers utilized personality instrument results during individual meetings. Adult male and female offenders on federal supervised release (245 in the treatment group and 271 in the comparison group) were tracked for a minimum of 2 years. Revocation rates for the treatment/PRINT group were significantly lower than the comparison group. Results suggested that opportunity reduction strategies from the PRINT instrument may have contributed to lower revocation rates. However, the techniques learned may not have been strong enough to offset the strong habitual and reactionary pull of relapse, or complications caused by involvement in a new crime.

Male Victims of Sexual Violence and Factors Associated With Reporting to Law Enforcement in the United States

Of the violent crimes, sexual assault remains the least likely to be reported to law enforcement across various countries, particularly for male victims. Addressing this gap in the literature, this study uses National Crime Victimization Survey data from 1992 to 2020 to examine the relationship between victim, offender, and situational characteristics to the reporting of rape for male victims by both male and female offenders. Of the 330 male victims, only one in six (16%) reported it to law enforcement. In the multivariate model, men were less likely to report the incident when the offender was a woman or a juvenile, the victim was college educated and lived in a rural area, and when the incident was a completed rape and occurred at night-time. Older victims are more likely to report, and when a weapon is used or there are injuries. Implications for efforts to increase reporting among victims of male sexual violence are discussed.