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Predictors of Recidivism Among Incarcerated Female Offenders

NCJ Number
157937
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 75 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 277-294
Author(s)
J Bonta; B Pang; S Wallace-Capretta
Date Published
1995
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Compared to male offenders, female offenders have received little empirical attention; this is particularly true in the area of offender risk assessment and recidivism prediction.
Abstract
Because objective risk scales have been developed and used more with males than with females, two studies were conducted to investigate recidivism predictors for incarcerated females in Canada. The first study attempted to validate a risk scale developed for a male offender population and found poor generalizability. The second study explored other possible predictors, including victimization experiences, but little progress was made in applying male recidivism predictors to females. Implications of the findings for future research on female offender risk prediction and prison programming are discussed. 59 references and 4 tables