Female Offenders in Scotland: Implications for Theory (From Children and Young People in Conflict with the Law, P 102-130, 1996, Stewart Asquith, ed. - See NCJ-167654)

• NCJ Number: 167659
• Author(s): E Samuel; K Tisdall
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 29 pages
• Sale Source: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This chapter discusses the treatment of female offenders in Scotland and examines theory implications.

Abstract

Three ideas have permeated the discourse on female offending: female offenders are innately irrational and immoral; they are in need of protection, particularly from their own sexuality; and they meet with greater leniency and protectionism from the criminal justice system. The chapter assesses the applicability of these themes for girls and young women in Scotland, through an examination of official statistics. Analysis of statistics on female offending in Scotland disclosed that: (1) official criminality is largely a male pastime, although women are gradually increasing their official involvement in the Scottish criminal justice system; (2) researchers should challenge any proposition that men offend as part of growing up but women offend because they are abnormal or immoral; and (3) the criminal justice system tends to treat girls and young women more leniently than boys and young men. Notes, tables, references