The Female Offender : Girls, Women, and Crime

Scholarship in criminology over the last few decades has often left little room for research and theory on how female offenders are perceived and handled in the criminal justice system. In truth, one out of every four juveniles arrested is female, and the population of women in prison has tripled in the past decade. Co-authored by Meda Chesney-Lind, one of the pioneers in the development of the feminist theoretical perspective in criminology, The Female Offender: Girls, Women and Crime, Third Edition redresses these issues. In an engaging style, authors Meda Chesney-Lind and Lisa Pasko explore gender and cultural factors in women's lives that often precede criminal behavior and address the question of whether female offenders are more violent today than in the past. The authors provide ... Scholarship In Criminology Over The Last Few Decades Has Often Left Little Room For Research And Theory On How Female Offenders Are Perceived And Handled In The Criminal Justice System. In Truth, One Out Of Every Four Juveniles Arrested Is Female, And The Population Of Women In Prison Has Tripled In The Past Decade. Co-authored By One Of The Pioneers In The Development Of The Feminist Theoretical Perspective In Criminology, This Work Redresses These Issues. The Authors Explore Gender And Cultural Factors In Women's Lives That Often Precede Criminal Behavior And Address The Question Of Whether Female Offenders Are More Violent Today Than In The Past. The Authors Provide A Revealing Look At How Public Discomfort With The Idea Of Women As Criminals Significantly Impacts The Treatment Received By This Offender Population. The Text Covers Additional Topics Such The Interaction Of Sexism, Racism, And Social Class Inequalities That Results In An Increase Of Female Offenders, As Well As The Imprisonment Binge That Has Resulted In An Increasing Number Of Girls And Women Being Incarcerated. Introduction -- 2.girls' Troubles And Female Delinquency -- Trends In Girls' Arrests -- Boys' Theories And Girls' Lives -- Criminalizing Girls' Survival: Abuse, Victimization, And Girls' Official Delinquency -- Delinquency Theory And Gender: Beyond Status Offenses -- 3.girls, Gangs, And Violence -- Girls Gone Wild? -- The Media, Girls Of Color, And Gangs -- Trends In Girls' Violence And Aggression -- Girls, Robbery, And Other Assaults -- Girl Gang Membership -- Girls And Gangs: Qualitative Studies -- Labeling Girls Violent? -- Girls, Gangs, And Media Hype: A Final Note -- 4.the Juvenile Justice System And Girls -- The Best Place To Conquer Girls -- Girls And Juvenile Justice Reform -- Deinstitutionalization And Judicial Paternalism: Challenges To The Double Standard Of Juvenile Justice -- Rising Detentions And Racialized Justice -- Offense Patterns Of Girls In Custody -- Bootstrapping -- Deinstitutionalization Or Transinstitutionalization? Girls And The Mental Health System -- Girls' Sexuality In Institutional Environments -- Human Rights Abuses In Girls' Institutions? -- Instead Of Incarceration: What Could Be Done To Meet The Needs Of Girls? -- 5.trends In Women's Crime -- Unruly Women: A Brief History Of Women's Offenses -- Trends In Women's Arrests -- How Could She? The Nature And Causes Of Women's Crime -- Embezzlement -- Driving Under The Influence -- Larceny Theft/shoplifting - - Big Time/small Time -- Pathways To Women's Crime -- Beyond The Street Woman: Resurrecting The Liberated Female Crook? -- The Revival Of The Violent Female Offender -- 6.sentencing Women To Prison: Equality Without Justice -- Trends In Women's Crime: A Reprise -- Women, Violent Crimes, And The War On Drugs -- Getting Tough On Women's Crime -- Building More Women's Prisons -- Profile Of Women In U.s. Prisons -- Childhoods Of Women In Prison -- Current Offenses -- Property Crimes -- Drug Use Among Women In Prison -- Mothers Behind Bars -- Race And Women's Imprisonment -- Different Versus Equal? -- Prisons And Parity -- Reducing Women's Imprisonment Through Effective Community-based Strategies And Programs -- Detention Versus Prevention -- 7.female Offenders, Community Supervision, And Evidence-based Practices / Janet T. Davidson -- Trends In Probation, Incarceration, And Parole -- Evidence-based Practices And Gender-neutral Supervision -- Challenging Gender-neutral Risk-driven Supervision -- Criminal History -- Education And Employment -- Financial -- Family And Marital -- Accommodation -- Alcohol And Drug Problems -- Emotional And Personal -- Challenging Gender- Neutral Supervision: Women's Histories Of Victimization, Health Problems, And Child Care Needs -- Histories Of Abuse -- Health And Children -- Supervision And Reintegration -- Moving Forward: Gender-equitable Supervision For Female Offenders In The Community -- Promising Examples For Moving Forward -- 8.conclusion. Editors, Meda Chesney-lind, Lisa Pasko. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Scholarship in criminology over the last few decades has often left little room for research and theory on how female offenders are perceived and handled in the criminal justice system. In truth, one out of every four juveniles arrested is female, and the population of women in prison has tripled in the past decade. Co-authored by Meda Chesney-Lind, one of the pioneers in the development of the feminist theoretical perspective in criminology, The Female Offender: Girls, Women and Crime, Third Edition redresses these issues.In an engaging style, authors Meda Chesney-Lind and Lisa Pasko explore gender and cultural factors in women′s lives that often precede criminal behavior and address the question of whether female offenders are more violent today than in the past. The authors provide a revealing look at how public discomfort with the idea of women as criminals significantly impacts the treatment received by this offender population. The text covers additional topics such the interaction of sexism, racism, and social class inequalities that results in an increase of female offenders, as well as the imprisonment binge that has resulted in an increasing number of girls and women being incarcerated. Cover......Page 1 Brief Contents......Page 6 Detailed Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 chapter 1 - Introduction......Page 16 Chapter 2 - Girls’ Troubles and “Female Delinquency”......Page 25 Chapter 3 - Girls, Gangs, and Violence......Page 48 chapter 4 - The Juvenile Justice System and Girls......Page 72 Chapter 5 - Trends in Women’s Crime......Page 112 Chapter 6 - Sentencing Women to Prison: Equality Without Justice......Page 134 Chapter 7 - Female Offenders, Community Supervision, and Evidence-Based Practices......Page 168 Chapter 8 - Conclusion......Page 196 References......Page 203 Index......Page 227 About the Authors......Page 238 Scholarship in criminology over the years has often left little room for research and theory on how female offenders are perceived and handled in the criminal justice system. This title explores gender and cultural factors in women's lives that often precede criminal behavior.