An introductory chapter explains conflict theory with emphasis on its usefulness in analyzing the differential treatment of female offenders, victims, and criminal justice professionals and in explaining the lack of attention to women in both research and criminal justice programming. Six essays, most using primary empirical data rather than official statistics, examine the processing of female offenders through the various criminal justice agencies. Four articles consider women as victims of rape, spouse abuse, and incest. The interaction between criminal justice officials and these victims and how these interactions produce further victimization are explored. Legal issues and criminal justice policies regarding these crimes are also discussed. Four chapters focus on the changing roles of women as professionals in criminal justice agencies, with emphasis on the role conflicts and other problems these women face. Specific studies focus on women in police academy training, women lawyers and judges in the criminal courts, female guards in male prisons, and female county jail officers. Data tables, notes, chapter reference lists, an author index, and a subject index are included. For specific chapters, See NCJ 99506-520