Females and violent crime

• Steffensmier and Schwartz

  Found increase in official stats didn’t match victim surveys or self report studies

  • argue reason for increase is net widening > prosecuting females for less serious violent offences than previously
• Worrall

  Argues past girls’ behaviour was seen as a welfare issue whereas now it’s labelled as criminality

  • increase in female convictions maybe a result of a moral panic by media about young women being out of control
• Sharpe

  Found CJS professionals were influenced by media stereotypes of violent ladettes

  • creates amplification spiral; reports of girls misbehaviour sensitise the police and courts > take tougher stance > results in more convictions > produces negative media stories
• Gender and victimisation

  Crime survey for England and Wales show gender differences in victimisation and in relationship between victim and offender

  • more men are victims of violence and homicide
  • more women than men are victims of intimate violence
• Evaluation of survey

  • Victim surveys don't show the severity of victimisation
  • Ansara and Hinchin showed female victims experience greater violence and control