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FEMALE OFFENDERS

NCJ Number
56898
Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, SPECIAL PUBLICATION Issue: 9 Dated: (1975) Pages: 326-333
Author(s)
T C N GIBBENS
Date Published
1975
Length
8 pages
Annotation
FEMALE DEVIANCE IN GREAT BRITAIN IS DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO STATISTICS FROM A NUMBER OF BRITISH STUDIES.
Abstract
CRIME IS OVERWHELMINGLY A MASCULINE ACTIVITY. SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE BEHAVIOR DISORDERS OF CHILDREN BROUGHT TO COURT ARE EVIDENT FROM AN EARLY AGE. BOYS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES, WHEREAS GIRLS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE 'WAYWARD.' A HIGH PROPORTION OF PERSISTENTLY WAYWARD GIRLS SUFFER FROM SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS. RELATIVELY FEW DELINQUENT OR WAYWARD GIRLS COME BEFORE THE COURTS IN LATER LIFE. AFTER THE AGE OF 24, THE NUMBER OF FEMALE OFFENDERS FALLS OFF. MEDICAL PROBLEMS APPEAR TO PLAY A LARGE PART IN THE OFFENSES OF WOMEN. FOR INSTANCE, A STUDY OF ENGLISH-BORN FEMALE SHOPLIFTERS IN THEIR 50'S FOUND AN UNUSUALLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ILLNESS. SOME STUDIES HAVE FOUND HIGH RATES OF GENETIC ABNORMALITIES AMONG FEMALE OFFENDERS. STUDIES SEEKING A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEVIANCE AND THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE HAVE BEEN INCONCLUSIVE. SHOPLIFTING IS THE MOST COMMON FEMALE OFFENSE, ACCOUNTING FOR HALF OF ALL CONVICTIONS OF FEMALES IN ENGLAND. PROSTITUTION PER SE IS NOT AN OFFENSE IN ENGLAND, BUT BETWEEN A QUARTER AND A THIRD OF ALL ADULT WOMEN ADMITTED TO PRISON ARE OR HAVE BEEN PROSTITUTES. TWO OTHER TYPES OF OFFENSES BY FEMALES--CHRONIC DRUNKENNESS AND CHILD ABUSE--ARE SIGNIFICANT. IN ENGLAND, THE INCIDENCE OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND ABNORMALITY AMONG FEMALE OFFENDERS IS SUCH THAT WOMEN'S PRISONS ARE MORE LIKE SECURE HOSPITALS. IT MAY BE THAT THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN DEVELOPING A CLOSER, MORE FLEXIBLE LIAISON AMONG PRISONS, HOSPITALS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES WILL BE TAKEN ON BEHALF OF FEMALE OFFENDERS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)