NCJ Number
47760
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 42 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 45-49
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
TRENDS IN WOMENS' ARRESTS ARE DELINEATED THROUGH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS FROM 1960-1975, AND AREAS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ARE IDENTIFIED.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS OF FEMALE CRIMINALITY IN LITERATURE GREATLY INCREASED IN THE 1970'S SUGGESTING A SHIFT IN THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF FEMALE CRIMINALITY FROM THE AHISTORICAL, SEXIST VIEW TO THE HISTORICAL, SOCIOECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL VIEW. THE ETIOLOGY OF FEMALE CRIME HAS BECOME A POPULAR THEME. THE DATA PRESENTED SUGGEST THAT FEMALE ARRESTS HAVE GRADUALLY INCREASED BY 5 PERCENT OVER A 15-YEAR PERIOD. THIS IS NOT A DRAMATIC INCREASE, NOR DID THE INCREASE OCCUR IN THE AREA OF SERIOUS CRIME. WHEN RATES OF INCREASE FOR VARIOUS ARREST CATEGORIES ARE COMPARED FOR MALES AND FEMALES, FEMALE RATES ARE FOUND TO BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THOSE OF THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS. IN ORDER TO PUT THE DATA IN PERSPECTIVE, IT IS NECESSARY TO POINT OUT THAT FBI STATISTICS ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH THE CRIME RATE; THE ARREST STATISTICS DO INDICATE THAT WOMEN ARE NOT BECOMING MORE VIOLENT. THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP THAT MANY THEORISTS SUGGEST BETWEEN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT AND INCREASED ARREST RATES FOR WOMEN HAS YET TO BE VERIFIED. HOWEVER, INCREASED ECONOMIC PRESSURES ON WOMEN SEEM TO ACCOUNT FOR A CONTINUAL GROWTH IN PROPERTY ARRESTS FOR WOMEN. OVERALL, MORE RESEARCH ON WOMEN OFFENDERS IS NEEDED. THE EFFECTS OF CHANGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ON ARREST RATES MIGHT BE ESPECIALLY ILLUMINATING, AND THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS ON FEMALE OFFENDERS ALSO REQUIRE ATTENTION. TABULAR DATA AND NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (JSP)