NCJ Number
78335
Journal
Indian Journal of Social Work Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: (January 1981) Pages: 393-401
Date Published
1981
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This Indian paper reports the findings of a study of 120 female inmates in 2 jails of Andhra Pradesh during the period 1974-1978.
Abstract
Of the 120 offenders, 43.3 percent were involved in offenses against the person, 27.5 percent had committed immoral offenses, 19.2 percent had committed property offenses, 6.7 percent had done excise offenses, and 3.3 percent had committed other offenses such as smuggling. Women in urban areas were mainly involved in moral offenses, while women from rural areas were predominantly involved in offenses against the person (such as murder). Data are discussed concerning religion and caste composition of the offenders. Most of the offenders were between 21 and 40 years of age, and 39.2 percent were married at the time of the study. Data also showed that 31.7 percent were literate, and 68.3 percent were illiterate. The study analyzes the modus operandi, characteristics of the victims/clients, and complexity of the causal factors. Financial difficulties, domestic causes, social causes other than domestic, mental dispositions/attitudes, and causes relating to victim/victim's kin were found to be important. Also noted is the generally low status of women in Indian society. A table, footnotes, and 15 references are included.