THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE UN'S INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF WOMEN RECEIVED REPLIES TO ITS GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN PRISONERS FROM 27 COUNTRIES. IN ADDITION, 15 COUNTRIES RESPONDED TO A NEW QUESTIONNAIRE ON MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM AMONG WOMEN OFFENDERS. SELECTED FINDINGS ON PERTINENT POLICIES OF THE RESPONDENT COUNTRIES ARE DESCRIBED UNDER EIGHT HEADINGS: 1) GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS, 2) PROBATION AND SUPERVISED PAROLE, 3) STATUS OF WOMEN AWAITING TRIAL, 4) SEPARATION OR NOT BETWEEN PRIMARY DELINQUENTS AND RECIDIVISTS, 5) THE ROLE OF SUPERVISORS, 6) MEASURES TAKEN DURING THE TERM OF IMPRISONMENT INTENDED TO HELP RECIDIVISM, 7) MEASURES TAKEN FOR AFTERCARE TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM, AND 8) CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS. IT IS OBSERVED THAT DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACCORDING TO SEX HAS RESULTED IN FEMALES HAVING A DISTINCT ADVANTAGES OVER MALES IN SEVERAL FOLLOWING AREAS, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC'S REPORT TO THE POLICE, THE POLICE ARREST, THE COURT'S SENTENCE, AND CHANCE AND LENGTH OF INCARCERATION. IT IS ALSO EXPECTED THAT, AS A RESULT OF WOMEN'S HIGHER EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND THE PRESENCE OF MORE SINGLE WOMEN PURSUING PROFESSIONAL, OCCUPATIONAL, AND POLITICAL INTERESTS, CRIME AS A PREDOMINANT MALE PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR MAY CHANGE. HOWEVER, ASSESSMENTS OF FEMALE CRIMINALITY MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT UNREPORTED FEMALE CRIME STEMMING FROM COMPLEX PHYSIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR ADVANCING THE INTERESTS OF FEMALE OFFENDERS, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED ON THE CAUSES OF FEMALE CRIMINALITY. (DEG)