SELF-REPORTED CRIME RATES OF WOMEN PRISONERS

• NCJ Number: 147909
• Journal: Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1993) Pages: 357-382
• Date Published: 1993
• Author(s): K English
• Length: 26 pages
• Grant Number(s): 87-IJ-CX-0048
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

Using the criminal careers paradigm as the framework for analysis, this study examined criminal activity self- reports of female prisoners in Colorado for eight felony offenses.

Abstract

Data were collected using a 65-page self-administered questionnaire. The study group consisted of 128 women and 872 men. Important similarities between females and males were found in overall crime patterns. Specifically, a small proportion of both women and men described committing a large number of total reported crimes. Data also suggested that women and men were similar in violent crime participation. Once active in a crime type, females and males committed assault, theft, and forgery at significantly different rates. No gender differences were found, however, in the annualized frequency rates of burglary, robbery, motor vehicle theft, fraud, and drug dealing. Findings reflect the value of the criminal career paradigm for studying gender-related crime differences. Appendixes contain offense definitions and supplemental data. 71 references, 3 tables, and 5 figures