Saturday, 15 January 2005 - 12:00 PM

This presentation is part of: Poster Session II

A Comparative Study of Female Sex Offenders and Female Offenders

Since the 1960s, the rate of female crime has risen steadily, and at a higher rate than male crime (Flowers, 1995). During the ten-year span of 1993 to 2002, all crime, and violent crime in particular, has declined (FBI, 2002). However, during that same ten-year period, arrest rates for adult females rose 14.1%, while arrests rates declined for adult males by approximately 6%, (Department of Justice (DOJ), 2002). Historically, female sex offenses have predominantly consisted of prostitution and commercialized vice. In 1992, these accounted for nearly 90 percent of all female sex crime arrests. Forcible rape accounted for less than 1 percent of arrests, yet was the fastest growing sexual offense committed by women (DOJ, 1992). In 2002, although all crime, and violent crime in particular, had declined, arrests for forcible rape by adult women was up 4 percent; and up 73 percent for females under the age of 18 (DOJ, 2002). Female offenders tend to have higher levels of chemical dependency, personality disorders, childhood trauma histories, including sexual abuse, than females in general (DOJ, 1992; 1994). The identification, rates, and adjudication of female sex offenders are growing. However, little knowledge is available regarding the characteristics of female sex offenders, factors and causes of female deviance, differences in female criminals, and how best to rehabilitate them. The research into the dynamics and characteristics of female sex offenders is scant. Female sex offenders differ from male sex offenders (Allen, 1991; Nichols & Molinder, 2003). However, research is limited in how female sex offenders differ from other female criminals. Since women share the same socialization, sexual development, trauma histories, and gender-specific issues, the pathway to female sexual deviance is unclear. Thus far, intervention strategies for female sex offenders have been based on research and knowledge gained from male sexual offending. To design effective treatment strategies for this unique population, more needs to be known about female sex offenders and their differences from other female criminals. Using a correlational design, a sample of 131 incarcerated females, 61 sex offenders, and 70 non-sexual offenders, was studied. Highly valid and reliable instruments, including the Multiphasic Sex Inventory – II Female version (MSI – II), the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 (SASSI-3), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), were used to evaluate the two groups, assessing differences in the areas of childhood trauma, childhood sexual abuse, personality disorders, chemical dependency, emotional neediness, and social competence, as well as demographic data. Significant differences were found in overall childhood trauma, sexual abuse among others. No differences between the groups were found in terms of alcohol and drug use and abuse. Implications for identification, adjudication, and rehabilitation of female sex offenders are discussed. Results are beneficial in designing gender-specific intervention strategies, and differentiating the treatment needs of female sex offenders from those of other female criminals. Findings from this study should inform the training of social workers, mental health professionals, probation, parole, judges, and policy-makers in their response and risk assessment of this growing sex offender population.

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