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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While the offender population is predominately male, the increase in offending by women established the importance of exploring how and why women engage in criminal behaviors, as well as determining possible factors that contribute to continued engagement in criminal behaviors (Salisbury & Van Voorhis, 2009). Research pertaining to female offenders has illuminated common features associated with the female offender population. In this discussion, the two features that will be discussed are victimization via abuse, and the lack of human capital. Both features will first be described and discussed in terms of how and why each is a common feature among female offenders. Then the features will be described in relation to treatment approaches and outcomes. Victimization through Abuse
One common feature established among female offenders is victimization. More specifically, Salisbury and Van Voorhis (2009) described three primary pathways to incarceration of women, which included a pathway starting with childhood victimization. In general, high levels of childhood victimizations are found in inmates of either gender. However, childhood victimization and sexual abuse is comparatively higher among female offenders than in male offenders (Fagan & Ax, 2010). Fagan and Ax (2010) identified a study conducted by Browne, Miller, and Maguin (1999) in which they interviewed 150 incarcerated women in a correctional facility in New York.