DATA WERE GATHERED BY PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCY (PTSA) STAFF FROM 341 MALE AND 54 FEMALE DEFENDANTS. THE DATA SHOW THAT FEMALE DEFENDANTS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY THAN MALES TO BE BLACK AND TO BE DIVORCED OR SEPARATED BUT LESS LIKELY TO BE SPANISH-SURNAMED AND TO BE MARRIED. ALTHOUGH THE TYPICAL DEFENDANT SUPPORTS NO CHILDREN, FEMALES ARE MORE LIKELY THAN MALES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND TO LIVE WITH THE CHILDREN THEY SUPPORT. NEARLY IDENTICAL PROPORTIONS OF MALES AND FEMALES PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH WHOM THEY DO NOT LIVE. TWO-THIRDS OF ALL SUBJECTS WERE RECOMMENDED FOR RELEASE ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE AT ARRAIGNMENT BY THE PTSA. FEMALE DEFENDANTS WERE SLIGHTLY LESS LIKELY THAN MALES TO BE SO RECOMMENDED. ARRAIGNMENT CHARGES OF FEMALE DEFENDANTS TEND TO BE LESS SEVERE THAN THOSE OF MALE DEFENDANTS. UNEXPECTEDLY, HOWEVER, FEMALE DEFENDANTS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY THAN MALES TO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT AT ARRAIGNMENT AND SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH LARCENY, WHICH INCLUDES SHOPLIFTING. NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES ARE FOUND IN ARRAIGNMENT DISPOSITIONS. JUDGES TEND TO FAVOR WOMEN OVER MEN AND CHILD-SUPPORTING WOMEN OVER OTHER WOMEN IN TERMS OF PRETRIAL RELEASE DECISIONS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.