NCJ Number
14393
Journal
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1974) Pages: 173-180
Date Published
1974
Length
8 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY OF TWO GROUPS OF VIOLENT OFFENDERS CARRIED OUT DURING 1970-1971 IN ONTARIO, CANADA.
Abstract
THIS STUDY COMPARED 26 WOMEN AND 165 MEN WHO HAD COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIMES. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM CASE STUDIES OF VIOLENT OFFENDERS DETAINED IN MENTAL HOSPITALS AND IN FEDERAL PENITENTIARIES. THE AREAS COVERED IN THIS STUDY INCLUDED OFFENDER BACKGROUND, TYPE OF VICTIM, THE CRIMINAL ACT, CRIMINAL AND PSYCHIATRIC HISTORY AND MOTIVATION. IT WAS FOUND THAT FEWER WOMEN COMMIT CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, ALTHOUGH THEIR CRIMES ARE MORE OFTEN FATAL. MORE WOMEN GIVE ALTRUISTIC REASONS FOR THEIR VIOLENCE AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE AFTER ATTACKING THEIR VICTIMS. FURTHERMORE, WOMEN MORE OFTEN GIVE WARNINGS OF THEIR HOMICIDAL INTENTIONS, OR SEEK HELP PRIOR TO THEIR VIOLENT ACTS, THAN MEN. THE STATISTICAL TRENDS FOR FEMALE VIOLENCE AND THE RISING GENERAL CRIME RATE FOR WOMEN ARE ALSO DISCUSSED.