The results indicate that two main factors were significantly related to female persistence in criminality: (1) prior sexual abuse and (2) association with delinquent peers. The main factors that seemed to distinguish between male and female offending rates appeared to be exposure to risk (association with delinquent peers) and a history of physical and sexual abuse. These findings suggest that different developmental issues for females should be addressed in the development of a theoretical explanation for female crime persistence. The findings also have implications for policymakers in terms of the development of prison-based programming that addresses female physical and sexual abuse. Participants were 131 female inmates residing in a southwestern prison who volunteered to complete a self-report survey focusing on their life history, prior criminal involvement, and demographic information. Participants were recruited through fliers in female prison pods that explained the research. Data were analyzed using stepwise logistic regression analyses. Future research on criminal persistence should continue to focus on distinguishing between male and female persistence to determine similarities and differences in persistence patterns. Tables, notes, references