Title: Characteristics Of Female Offenders
Headings: Characteristics Of Female Offenders
Characteristics Of Female Offenders
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Victimization through Abuse
Lack of Human Capital
Implications of Each Feature on Treatment Approaches and Treatment Outcomes
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Content: Mental illness, which was associated with childhood victimization, was also identified as another factor that contributed to continued recidivism. According to Fagan and Ax (2010), childhood and adult victimization is a precursor to mental illness among female offenders. Incarceration can result due to the inability for women with mental illness caused by victimization to adapt to life circumstances and their environment. Criminal behaviors of females are precipitated by various factors such as poverty, physical and sexual abuse, and substance abuse (Salisbury & Van Voorhis, 2009). Childhood and subsequent adult victimization and trauma can result in depression, mood disorders, and drug abuse. The mechanisms that can lead to incarceration of females includes running away from home, living on the streets, engaging in prostitution, remaining in violent relationships, and engaging in illicit behaviors to meet financial needs (Salisbury & Van Voorhis, 2009). Lack of Human Capital
Another pathway to incarceration is through human capital. Human capital was described by Salisbury and Van Voorhis (2009) as a combination of skills, knowledge, and capacity that enable individuals to act. Actions are facilitated by human capital because of the effects of social empowerment on an individual’s psychological well-being (Salisbury & Van Voorhis, 2009). Human capital also involves an individual’s ability to achieve personal goals through the application of personal confidence, educational achievement, and self-efficacy (Salisbury & Van Voorhis, 2009).