CHANGING PATTERNS OF FEMALE CRIME IN RURAL AMERICA, 1962-75

• NCJ Number: 59601
• Journal: Rural Sociology Volume: 43 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 87-102
• Author(s): D J STEFFENSMEIER; C JORDAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Texas A&M University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TRENDS IN FEMALE CRIME IN RURAL AMERICA ARE EXAMINED USING ARREST RATES SINCE 1962, AND RURAL-URBAN DIFFERENCES IN MALE-FEMALE CRIME PATTERNS ARE ASSESSED.

Abstract

DATA ON ARRESTS FROM 1962-75 WERE OBTAINED FROM THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS. ANALYSIS BEGINS WITH DATA FOR 1962, THE FIRST YEAR IN WHICH ARREST FIGURES WERE PROVIDED SEPARATELY FOR RURAL AREAS. TO OVERCOME THE DEFICIENCIES OF EARLIER ANALYSES, SEX-SPECIFIC ARREST RATES WERE USED AS THE PRINCIPAL MEASURE OF FEMALE CRIME. U.S. CENSUS DATA WERE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS DATA TO COMPUTE ARREST RATES REFINED ACCORDING TO SEX AND RESIDENCE DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE POPULATION. THE PROCEDURE USED TO COMPUTE THESE RATES MAKES THE ARREST FIGURES COMPARABLE OVER TIME AND BETWEEN THE SEXES. TO FACILITATE COMPARISONS OF MALE-FEMALE ARREST RATES, THE PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTED BY FEMALES TO THE TOTAL (MALE AND FEMALE) ARREST RATE FOR EACH OFFENSE WAS CALCULATED. ANOTHER SET OF CALCULATIONS PERFORMED TO ASSESS CHANGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF SERIOUS CRIMES COMMITTED BY RURAL FEMALES AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING IN THE PROFILE OF THE RURAL FEMALE OFFENDER. FINDINGS SHOW THAT THE RELATIVE GAP BETWEEN THE SEXES HAS NOT CHANGED FOR VIOLENT CRIME, BUT HAS NARROWED SOMEWHAT FOR PROPERTY CRIME. THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT HAS HAD LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON RURAL FEMALE ARREST PATTERNS. THESE TRENDS PARALLEL THOSE FOR URBAN FEMALES, OFFERING SUPPORT FOR THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE RATE OF INCREASE AND THE SEX DIFFERENTIALS WILL BE SIMILAR IN RURAL AND URBAN LOCATIONS. STUDY FINDINGS LEND SUPPORT TO RECENT RESEARCH SHOWING RELATIVE COMPARABILITY IN BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL CHANGES BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN WOMEN (AND MEN) DURING THE PAST DECADE. RESULTS ALSO LEND CREDENCE TO THE CONTINUED VIABILITY OF THE RURAL-URBAN VARIABLE. SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON RURAL WOMEN AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.