NCJ Number
181840
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: 1998 Pages: 59-73
Date Published
1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article discusses female sexual offending against children and the way in which these cases are processed by the criminal justice system.
Abstract
Historically, women have been seen to have a much lower recorded rate of crime than men. In the area of child sexual abuse, women have figured prominently in official statistics as victims but have had virtually no official recognition as offenders. It is difficult for many people to accept that women do sexually abuse children and this can result in discounting by personnel in child protection services and police. Victims of sexual abuse by females are faced with the same devastating consequences as those who are sexually abused by males but find it almost impossible to get assistance from the agencies set up to protect them. Agencies of social control such as child protection agencies, police and courts fail to process and record cases of child sexual abuse where there is a female perpetrator due to denial and discounting. However, there is a need to listen to the victims and address this problem in the same way that sexual abuse by males is addressed. References