MANY AUTHORS BLAME THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT FOR THE INCREASE IN FEMALE OFFENSES, PARTICULARLY FOR PROPERTY OFFENSES. THEY SUGGEST THAT WOMEN WITH EXPANDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND NEW SELF-CONFIDENCE ARE LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN CRIMES TRADITIONALLY COMMITTED BY MEN; E.G., FRAUD, FORGERY, AND LARCENY. THEY ALSO CONTEND THAT THE SMALL INCREASE IN FEMALE VIOLENT CRIMES IS DUE TO FEMALES' INCREASED CHANCES TO VENT FRUSTRATION AND VICTIMIZATION INTO ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF ACTIVITY. ARREST STATISTICS DO INDICATE THAT CRIME RATES AMONG WOMEN HAVE RISEN ABOUT 200 PERCENT BETWEEN 1960 AND 1970 AND SHOW THAT NUMBERS OF FEMALE PROPERTY CRIMES HAVE ESCALATED WHILE THOSE OF FEMALE VIOLENT CRIMES HAVE REMAINED SOMEWHAT STABLE. HOWEVER, A CASUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE CRIME RATES AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT HAS NOT BEEN SUBSTANTIATED. MANY AUTHORS ALSO CONTEND THAT JUDGES' STEREOTYPES OF WOMEN OR 'CHIVALROUS' ATTITUDES LEAD THEM TO SANCTION FEMALE DEFENDANTS DIFFERENTLY THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS; BUT THIS AGAIN HAS NOT BEEN EMPIRICALLY PROVEN. THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN MALE AND FEMALE PRISONS. FEMALE INSTITUTIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE WELL-KEPT BUILDINGS IN PASTORAL AREAS WITH FEW SIGNS OF STRICT SECURITY. TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE FEW, AND THOSE THAT DO EXIST (COSMETOLOGY, OFFICE SKILLS, AND HOMEMAKING) ARE BASED ON TRADITIONALLY-DEFINED FEMALE ROLES. THE FEW JOB-ORIENTED PROGRAMS PROVIDE FEMALE INMATES WITH NO MARKETABLE SKILLS. CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENTS HAVE DISREGARDED SPECIAL FEMALE PROBLEMS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WOMEN INMATES' GREATEST CONCERNS ARE FOR THE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CUSTODY. THEY HAVE VERY LIMITED DECISIONMAKING POWER IN DETERMINING WHO TAKES CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CAREFUL RESEARCH BE CONDUCTED REGARDING SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF FEMALE DEFENDANTS AND INMATES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)