An Exploration of the Violent Victim Experiences of Female Offenders

Abstract

Female offenders are often portrayed as victims of violence, yet few studies have systematically examined such victimization. Violent experiences may both contribute to, and result from, crime - early family abuse may help propel a young woman into crime, and a criminal lifestyle may increase her risk of assault by strangers and intimate partners. Using data from 83 inmates, this study examined violent childhood and adult experiences, and explored possible linkages between victimization and offending. Although many women reported violent experiences, most striking was the high rate of assault by intimate partners. Early physical abuse was associated with earlier entry into crime, and with more diverse criminal activity. Attacks by strangers were more often reported by women who engaged in more frequent and diverse criminal activity. The data suggest that in order to understand female crime, additional research on the complex relationships between offending and victimization is warranted.