NCJ Number
44663
Date Published
Unknown
Length
49 pages
Annotation
THE FINDINGS OF SEVEN RELATED RESEARCH STUDIES ON FEMALE OFFENDERS IN CANADA ARE SUMMARIZED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE.
Abstract
THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS WHICH MUST BE MADE BETWEEN FEMALE AND MALE OFFENDERS, SUCH AS DIFFERENCES IN: (1) THE TYPES OF OFFENSES FOR WHICH WOMEN ARE MOST FREQUENTLY CONVICTED; (2) THE CORRECTIONAL NEEDS OF WOMEN; (3) THEIR RESPONSES TO CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS; AND (4) THEIR PROBLEMS OF ADJUSTMENT OR READJUSTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE DISPARITIES ARE IMPORTANT, AND RESEARCH INTO THE NEEDS OF THE ADULT FEMALE OFFENDER IS NECESSARY. ONE OF THE GREATEST OBSTACLES TO RESEARCH IN THIS AREA IS THE COMPARATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF FEMALE OFFENDERS, WHICH HINDERS ANY ANALYSIS OF WHAT LITTLE DATA DOES EXIST. SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS ARE GIVEN FOR IMPROVING STATISTICS IN THE FUTURE. THE PRIMARY TOPICS CONSIDERED IN THESE SEVEN STUDIES INCLUDED THE PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A FEMALE OFFENDER, WHAT HAPPENS TO HER FOLLOWING ARREST, AND WHICH STAGES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS SHE GOES THROUGH. FEMALE OFFENSE AND OFFENDER PROFILES WERE DEVELOPED FROM THE STUDIES; THE TYPES OF OFFENSES WITH WHICH WOMEN ARE MOST OFTEN CHARGED, CHANGES IN THE FEMALE CRIME RATE, OFFENDER AGE, CASE DISPOSITIONS, AND EDUCATION ARE CONSIDERED. VARIOUS PROCESSES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (E.G., PROBATION) ARE DISCUSSED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE TEXT AS THEY APPLY. ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE ARE SUMMARIZED IN AN APPENDIX. IN A SECOND APPENDIX, WORKING PAPERS OF EACH OF THE SEVEN STUDIES ARE SUMMARIZED AT LENGTH. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE: PROBATION; SELF-CONCEPT OF THE ADULT FEMALE OFFENDER; ADMISSIONS TO THE PROVINCIAL CORRECTIONAL CENTRE; THE USE OF FINES; THE ELIZABETH FRY SOCIETY (AN AGENCY FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH LAW); AND THE PROCEDURES A WOMAN GOES THROUGH FROM ARREST TO TRIAL.