NCJ Number
62860
Date Published
1979
Length
28 pages
Annotation
FACTORS AFFECTING THE CHARACTER AND RATE OF FEMALE CRIME ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED, AND FUTURE TRENDS IN FEMALE CRIME ARE FORECAST.
Abstract
WOMEN WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO MARRY, RAISE CHILDREN, AND WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME. THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SPACES WILL DISAPPEAR AS WOMEN ARE EMPLOYED IN PREVIOUSLY MALE-DOMINATED OCCUPATIONS, AND MEN TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOME MAINTENANCE. THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN TO ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIME SHOULD INCREASE, AND MORE WOMEN WILL BE ARRESTED FOR THE CATEGORY OF CRIME GENERALLY LABELED 'WHITE-COLLAR.' THE PERCENT INCREASES IN ARREST RATES FOR WOMEN WILL STABILIZE, WITH THE LARGEST INCREASE IN LARCENY, EMBEZZLEMENT, AND FRAUD. EDUCATIONAL LEVELS OF FEMALE OFFENDERS SHOULD RISE, AND THE RATIONALES GIVEN BY FEMALES FOR THEIR CRIME WILL BE MORE LIKE THOSE TRADITIONALLY GIVEN BY MALE OFFENDERS; MORE FEMALE ROBBERS AND BURGLARS WILL ACT INDEPENDENTLY AND USE WEAPONS, AND PUBLIC AND COURT OFFICIALS WILL BE LESS PROTECTIVE OF WOMEN OFFENDERS. THE NUMBER OF MURDERS AND ASSAULTS BY WOMEN WILL DECREASE, DUE TO A LESSENING OF CONFINING DOMESTIC CIRCUMSTANCES FOR FEMALES THAT TEND TO FOSTER AGGRESSION AND HOSTILITY. IN ADDITION, CHILD ABUSE BY WOMEN WILL GRADUALLY DECLINE WITH THE WIDE DISSEMINATION OF BIRTH CONTROL INFORMATION AND THE INCREASE IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THE NUMBER OF WOMEN ARRESTED FOR PROSTITUTION AND RELATED OFFENSES WILL GRADUALLY DECLINE AS WOMEN ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN BETTER PAYING AND MORE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE JOBS, AND THE NUMBER OF FEMALE JUVENILES ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT WILL DECREASE AS MORE YOUNG WOMEN HAVE ECONOMIC AND STATUS OPPORTUNITIES OPENED TO THEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)