Characteristics of Violent Crime Committed by Female Prisoners

Abstract

This study expands limited existing knowledge of the characteristics of violent crimes for which women in state prisons are incarcerated. An analysis was conducted utilizing survey data collected from female state prisoners by the U.S. Department of Justice for the Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities, 2004. The randomly selected, national sample consisted of 866 female state prisoners. Results suggest that the majority of the violent offenses occurred within the context of a relationship with the victim, most often in a domestic setting, and were influenced by the presence or absence of co-defendants. In addition, the use of weapons was infrequent and often defensive. Implications for practice in violence prevention, prison-based, and reentry services are discussed.