Female offenders are often perceived as victims who commit crimes as a self-defense mechanism or as criminal deviants whose actions strayed from typical ‘womanly’ behavior. Such cultural norms for violence exist in our gendered society and there has been scholarly debate about how male and female offenders are perceived and how this perception leads to differential treatment in the criminal justice system. This debate is primarily based upon theories associated with stereotypes and social norms and how these prescriptive norms can influence both public and criminal justice response. Scholars in psychology, sociology, and criminology have found that female offenders are perceived differently than male offenders and this ultimately leads to differential treatment in the criminal justice system. This interdisciplinary book provides an evidence based approach of how female offenders are perceived in society and how this translates to differential treatment within the criminal justice system and explores the ramifications of such differences. Quite often perceptions of female offenders are at odds with research findings. This book will provide a comprehensive evidence-based review of the research that is valuable to laypersons, researchers, practitioners, advocates, treatment providers, lawyers, judges, and anyone interested in equality in the criminal justice system.
Female offenders are often perceived as victims who commit crimes as a self-defense mechanism or as criminal deviants whose actions strayed from typical ‘womanly’ behavior. Such cultural norms for violence exist in our gendered society and there has been scholarly debate about how male and female offenders are perceived and how this perception leads to differential treatment in the criminal justice system. This debate is primarily based upon theories associated with stereotypes and social norms and how these prescriptive norms can influence both public and criminal justice response. Scholars in psychology, sociology, and criminology have found that female offenders are perceived differently than male offenders and this ultimately leads to differential treatment in the criminal justice system. This interdisciplinary book provides an evidence based approach of how female offenders are perceived in society and how this translates to differential treatment within the criminal justice system and explores the ramifications of such differences. Quite often perceptions of female offenders are at odds with research findings. This book will provide a comprehensive evidence-based review of the research that is valuable to laypersons, researchers, practitioners, advocates, treatment providers, lawyers, judges, and anyone interested in equality in the criminal justice system.
Explores perceptions of female offenders and their effects on criminal justice responses Interdisciplinary research on perceptions of gender, from Psychology, Sociology, and Criminology Counters popular perceptions of female offenders with evidence-based research Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Brenda Russell
differences in gender and sexuality in criminal justice female offenders and social media female offenders of partner abuse gender impact on incarceration legal treatment of female offenders treatment of female offenders
From the reviews:
“This book is a fine introduction to the literature and the controversies surrounding perception of female offenders. It is available both in print and as an e-book. … Researchers entering this area should also find the book to be a useful resource text, especially in combination with the PASK, and, for clinical professionals who deal with female offenders, it is an excellent continuing education experience that can bring them closer to the empirical foundations of their work.” (Thomas E. Schacht, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 58 (35), August, 2013)