Specially tailored programs for women are just now beginning to appear in Canada; in 1984, $2.1 million was allocated for program development and expansion of services for women offenders. Yet programs for women offenders are still under-represented in the Canadian criminal justice system, although they may be over-represented in the mental health, welfare, and victims programs. This quantitative report offers statistical data on male and female offenders to substantiate these claims, reviews the status of juvenile female offenders, compares the United States and Canada in terms of treatment of female offenders, and highlights gaps in the research and literature on the subject. Because of gender-specific cultural, social, and economic factors that affect both the female criminal behavior and the criminal justice system's response thereto, it is suggested that imprisonment of female offenders is neither appropriate nor effective; community based remedies must be developed. 5 tables, 2 figures, 81 footnotes. (Author abstract modified)