After an overview of research on women who commit violent offenses, this paper discusses the implications of this research for risk/needs assessments and treatment of such women.
Only a small percentage of women offenders have been convicted of violent offenses, which includes intimate partner violence (IPV). This paper's overview of research on this issue advises that there is a growing body of evidence that indicates females who engage in violence are not a homogenous group and that there are some significant differences in the context and expression of violent behavior across gender. A number of personal, contextual, cultural, and victimization-related factors are examined for females charged with IPV and other violent crimes. After an overview of the research, this paper focuses on the assessment process as applied to women who engage in violent behavior. A comprehensive assessment (and interview) is an essential first step in ensuring that women who commit violence are provided with appropriate intervention. The concluding section reports on a review of recent literature on intervention strategies for women convicted of violent offenses. Treatment strategies must be gender-based, meaning that the methods and focus of treatment must take into account distinctive differences between the social and biological factors that influence women and men. This paper addresses four of the most salient issues in treatment strategies for women who commit violence. First, these women are not a homogenous group. Second, many women who commit violence have a history of child and adult victimization. Third, women who commit violence are at greater risk for victimization in current relationships. Fourth, women who commit violence are more likely to have symptoms of depression and to be economically disadvantaged. These are issues that should receive attention in any treatment program for women who have engaged in violence. 7 tables, 1 figure, and 140 references