NCJ Number
49810
Journal
Trial Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 56-58
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEMS IMPOSED ON THE POLICE, COURTS, AND PRISONS BY THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN CRIMINALS ARE DISCUSSED AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR OVERCOMING CENTURIES OF MALE DOMINATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
Abstract
THE EXCLUSION OF WOMEN FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS TRACED BACK TO ROMAN TIMES. THE LACK OF FACILITIES FOR WOMEN PRISONERS IS EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF THE HISTORICAL ABSENCE OF WOMEN OFFENDERS. MALE ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN WITNESSES AND DEFENDERS ARE SUMMARIZED THROUGH QUOTATIONS FROM THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES. THE FEW WOMEN WHO DID ENTER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WERE GENERALLY PROSTITUTES OR SHOPLIFTERS. COURTS WERE RELATIVELY CHIVALROUS TO FEMALE OFFENDERS EXCEPT THAT WOMEN FREQUENTLY ARE GIVEN LONGER PRISON TERMS THAN MEN UNDER INDETERMINANT SENTENCING LAWS BECAUSE WOMEN WERE THOUGHT TO BE MORE AMENABLE TO TREATMENT. THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS CAME TO AN END IN THE 1960'S WHEN FEMALE RATES FOR ARMED ROBBERY INCREASED 380 PERCENT; FOR FRAUD, 488 PERCENT; FOR LARCENY, 465 PERCENT; AND FOR BURGLARY, 289 PERCENT. THE REASONS FOR THIS INCREASE LIE IN CHANGED ROLES FOR WOMEN AND PARALLEL INCREASES IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE ACCOMPANIED THE RISE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. THIS SUDDEN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE CRIMINAL WORLD HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A REEVALUATION IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. DETECTIVES HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THEIR ASSUMPTIONS, POLICE HAVE HAD TO ADD MORE FACILITIES FOR DEALING WITH WOMEN, AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR WOMEN ARE OVERFLOWING. THE REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS DEALS REALISTICALLY WITH THESE PROBLEMS. BASICALLY, THE GUIDELINES CENTER AROUND EQUALITY OF TREATMENT, NOT SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR WOMEN, BUT THE SAME TREATMENT FOR ALL CITIZENS WHETHER THEY BE MALE OR FEMALE. (GLR)