NCJ Number
36710
Journal
Social Science Quarterly Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Dated: (MARCH 1976) Pages: 650-657
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS RESEARCH NOTE ATTEMPTS TO DOCUMENT TRENDS IN INCREASING CRIME RATES FOR WOMEN AND TO EXPLAIN OBSERVED PATTERNS IN FEMALE CRIMINALITY FROM 1960-1970.
Abstract
DATA USED IN THE ANALYSIS WERE ABSTRACTED FROM THE FBI'S UNIFORM CRIME REPORT FOR 1970 AND ARE COMPARABLE FOR 1960 AND 1970. TABLES WERE CONSTRUCTED TO SHOW THE INCREASE IN ARRESTS RELATIVE TO THE PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION OF EACH AGE AND SEX CATEGORY OVER TIME. IT WAS FOUND THAT IN THE TIME PERIOD STUDIED, FEMALE CRIMINALITY INCREASED 58 PERCENT TO A 12 PERCENT INCREASE FOR MALES AND THE CRIME RATE FOR ADOLESCENT FEMALES TRIPLED WHILE THAT OF MALE OFFENDERS DOUBLED. OTHER FINDINGS INDICATE THAT ARREST RATES FOR WOMEN HAVE BEEN INCREASING MUCH FASTER FOR PROPERTY CRIMES, PARTICULARLY LARCENY, THAN FOR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE WHILE PROPERTY AND VIOLENT CRIME ARRESTS HAVE INCREASED PROPORTIONATELY AMONG MALES. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THEIR OWN AND OTHER ANALYSES SUGGEST THE VALIDITY OF STRUCTURAL EXPLANATIONS CONTRARY TO TRADITIONAL ARGUMENTS OF THE 'INHERENT NATURE OF WOMEN' IN THIS FIELD OF STUDY.