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Research on Women in the Criminal Justice System and Transnational Crime (From Women in the Criminal Justice System: International Examples and National Responses, P 169-175, 2001, Natalia Ollus and Sami Nevala, eds. -- See NCJ-188840)

NCJ Number
188845
Author(s)
Frances Heldensohn
Date Published
2001
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper reviewed findings of studies of female criminality, female victimization, and women's experiences in the criminal justice system in various countries and suggested ways to consider transnational crime from the perspective of this research.
Abstract
The research findings related to four areas: (1) the gender gap, including equity studies, chivalry, stigma, double deviance, and the liberation debate; (2) the gendered nature of much crime and victimization; (3) the concepts of agency and rationality and their application to women; and (4) and corrections policies and programs based on male models or gender stereotypes. One of the most striking aspects of contemporary concerns about women and transnational crime was that trafficking in women was the single crucial issue in this area. Gender issues were almost entirely absent from research and discussions of other crimes such as drug law offenses, money laundering, terrorism, and forms of crime such as organized crime. Further research on trafficking in persons needs to determine whether trafficked women are mainly a subset of trafficked migrants or are the victims of extreme forms of gendered violence that coerces them into prostitution. Major gaps exist in knowledge and understanding of the problems. 26 references