NCJ Number
67842
Date Published
1978
Length
53 pages
Annotation
OFFICIAL DATA FROM THE CANADIAN POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS SYSTEMS FROM 1965 THROUGH 1975 WERE USED TO PREPARE A DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICAL STUDY OF CANADIAN FEMALE OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF FEMALE CRIMINALITY IS DISCUSSED THROUGH A LITERATURE REVIEW AND A SUMMARY OF THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE. POLICE STATISTICS ON ALL PERSONS CHARGED INDICATE THAT FEMALE CRIME HAS INCREASED MORE RAPIDLY THAN MALE CRIME IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD STUDIED. THE LARGEST INCREASES HAVE BEEN IN CRIMINAL CODE AND FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES. NEVERTHELESS, FEMALES CONSTITUTED ONLY 11 PERCENT OF ALL PERSONS CHARGED WITH CRIMES IN 1975. FOR CRIME INDEX OFFENSES, 16 PERCENT OF THOSE CHARGED WERE FEMALES. MORE FEMALES WERE CHARGED WITH THEFT THAN WITH ANY OTHER OFFENSE. IN 1972, 75 PERCENT OF ALL WOMEN CONVICTED WERE CHARGED WITH THEFT AND FRAUD OFFENSES, COMPARED TO 46 PERCENT OF MALES. VIOLENT PERSONAL AND PROPERTY OFFENSES ACCOUNTED FOR SIX PERCENT OF THE FEMALE AND 29 PERCENT OF THE MALES CONVICTED. FOR CRIMINAL CODE OFFENSES, THE CONVICTION RATE WAS 85 PERCENT FOR WOMEN IN 1972. IN 1974, 82 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN CONVICTED RECEIVED NONINCARCERATIVE SENTENCES, COMPARED WITH 59 PERCENT OF THE MEN. A 1974 SURVEY OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS INDICATED THAT 4 PERCENT OF ALL INMATES WERE FEMALE. OVER THREE-FOURTHS OF THE FEMALES RELEASED FROM PENITENTIARIES IN THE 1970'S HAD BEEN INCARCERATED FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. EXTENSIVE TABLES AND FIGURES ARE INCLUDED, AS WELL AS A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF APPROXIMATELY 35 REFERENCES. --IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--CFW)