Recent Trends and Debates

This page examines more recent trends in female offending and victimization, as well as ongoing debates about the interpretation of crime statistics.

Females and Violent Crime

Hand & Dodd (2009) found that between 2000-2008, female arrests for violence rose by 17% per year in England and Wales. On the surface, this appears to support the liberation thesis that female crime is increasing as women gain more social freedom.

The Criminalization of Females

However, the rise in arrests doesn't necessarily mean there has been an equivalent rise in actual violent offending by women. Victim surveys don't report a corresponding increase in attacks by females. This discrepancy has led to the concept of "net-widening":

Definition: Net-widening - The process where the criminal justice system begins to arrest and prosecute individuals for less serious offenses than before, thus "widening the net" of criminalization.

The apparent rise in female violent crime may reflect changes in how the justice system responds to female behavior rather than an actual increase in violence. Some argue this represents a moral panic about girls' behavior, fueled by media depictions of young women as drunk, disorderly, and out of control.

Gender and Victimization

While much of the focus is on offending, it's also important to consider gender differences in victimization:

• In homicides, 70% of victims are men
• Female victims are more likely to be killed by partners or ex-partners

This highlights the complex interplay between gender, offending, and victimization in understanding crime patterns.

Highlight: Recent increases in female arrests may reflect changing enforcement practices rather than increased female offending, challenging simplistic interpretations of crime statistics.

Gender and Crime Statistics

This page presents key statistics on gender differences in criminal offending and convictions in England and Wales.

Males make up about 75% of convicted offenders in England and Wales. By age 40, 32% of males have a conviction compared to only 9% of females, highlighting the significant gender differences in crime statistics in England. However, some sociologists and criminologists argue that official statistics may underestimate the amount of female crime.

There are also differences in the types of crimes committed. A higher proportion of women are convicted of property crimes like burglary, while males are more likely to be convicted of violent or sexual offenses. Males also tend to be repeat offenders with longer criminal records.

Highlight: Official statistics show large gender gaps in offending, but some argue female crime is underestimated.

Example: 'Female' crimes like shoplifting may be less likely to be reported or noticed compared to male violence.

Some claim that even when women's crimes are reported, they may be less likely to be prosecuted or may receive more lenient treatment, pointing to potential female offenders leniency in the criminal justice system. However, this is debated by scholars.

Vocabulary: CJS - Criminal Justice System