Female Offenders

Recent developments in criminology have sought to distinguish between female offenders and their male counterparts and there is a growing body of literature and research which highlights the differences between male and female offenders. Research has found that women tend to commit less ‘serious’ crimes than men, usually following into one of the following categories: indecency (usually prostitution), dishonesty (particularly shoplifting and fraud) and non-sexual crimes of violence (including physical abuse of children).

According to the Scottish Government website, several studies about female offenders have reported the following findings: most female offenders are mothers, with poor educational backgrounds and many are unemployed; most are in receipt of state benefits and in debt; while many have experienced accommodation problems; most have experienced some form of abuse and psychological distress, and many have serious problems with alcohol and drug misuse. It was also found that a good proportion of female offenders had been in local authority care as children and some had lost the care of their own children.   

Research has also shown that the differences in sentencing between female and male offenders reflects, to a large degree, the fact that most female offenders commit less serious crimes than men and often have fewer previous convictions. Those women who are sentenced to a custodial sentence constitute a relatively small percentage of the prison population in Scotland (approximately 5% in 2007); however the number of female prisoners has risen 87% in last decade. Although this rise is particularly significant, it should be borne in mind that most female prisoners are held in custody for minor offences, often resulting in relatively short sentences. A significant number are also on remand awaiting sentence. For more detailed information on prison populations in Scotland see here. 

Cornton Vale provides custodial facilities for the bulk of female prisoners (including young offenders) in Scotland, although there are also small units in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Greenock and Inverness. All of these are run by the Scottish Prison Service. Several key reports, including A Safer Way and A Better Way, have highlighted the special circumstances and issues facing female prisoners in Scotland, leading to significant changes in the way female offenders are dealt by the criminal justice system. For more information on these initiatives see here.

The Centre holds a small number of books on Female Offenders, details of which can be found here.