SELF-REPORTED CRIME RATES OF WOMEN PRISONERS

Data were collected using a 65-page self-administered questionnaire. The study group consisted of 128 women and 872 men. Important similarities between females and males were found in overall crime patterns. Specifically, a small proportion of both women and men described committing a large number of total reported crimes. Data also suggested that women and men were similar in violent crime participation. Once active in a crime type, females and males committed assault, theft, and forgery at significantly different rates. No gender differences were found, however, in the annualized frequency rates of burglary, robbery, motor vehicle theft, fraud, and drug dealing. Findings reflect the value of the criminal career paradigm for studying gender-related crime differences. Appendixes contain offense definitions and supplemental data. 71 references, 3 tables, and 5 figures