PATTERNS OF FEMALE DELINQUENCY - TOWARD DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF FEMALE OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 65225
• Journal: South African Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 278-287
• Author(s): C R PIERCE; R F ASARNOW; R R ROSS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: National Institute for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa

Annotation

RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS ARE REPORTED FROM A STUDY OF DISTINCTIONS AMONG FEMALE JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN ONTARIO, CANADA.

Abstract

A RETROSPECTIVE EXAMINATION WAS MADE OF CASE RECORD DATA OF 500 FEMALE JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN A TRAINING SCHOOL IN ONTARIO. FACTOR ANALYTIC TECHNIQUES WERE USED TO DETERMINE PARENTAL CHARACTERISTICS AND REARING CONDITIONS, SUBJECT VARIABLES RELATING TO THE OFFENDER'S BEHAVIOR AND PERSONALITY, AND INSTITUTIONAL AND POSTINSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT. DIFFERENT PARENTAL CHARACTERISTICS AND REARING HISTORIES WERE FOUND TO BE RELATED TO VARYING PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES. THESE FACTORS WERE IN TURN SHOWN TO BE RELATED TO DIFFERENCES IN INSTITUTIONAL AND POSTINSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT. FACTOR ANALYSIS INDICATED THE SUBJECTS COULD BE DIVIDED INTO EIGHT DISTINCT PERSONALITY GROUPINGS. CAUTION IS ADVISED IN INTERPRETING AND USING THE FINDINGS BECAUSE OF THE SMALL SAMPLE AND THE STUDY'S INABILITY TO OBTAIN INTERRATER RELIABILITY ESTIMATES FOR THE SUBJECTIVE RATINGS. STILL, THE RESULTS PROVIDE STRONG INDICATION THAT THE TRADITIONAL UNIDIMENSIONAL VIEW OF FEMALE DELINQUENTS IS INADEQUATE. JUST AS MALE OFFENDERS HAVE BENEFITS FROM SOPHISTICATED CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO APPROACH INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT, SO SHOULD FEMALE OFFENDERS BE VIEWED AS HAVING A COMPLEX VARIETY OF NEEDS REQUIRING A CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM THAT WOULD MATCH CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND PROGRAMS TO PRECISE OFFENDER NEEDS AND PERSONALITIES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (RCB)