Individual and Relationship Factors That Differentiate Female Offenders With and Without a Sexual Abuse History

Abstract

The link between prior sexual abuse and female offending is one of the most consistent findings within the etiology of female offending. It is not, however, part of every female offender’s life history. Working from research on the impact of abuse on individuals, the current article examines the individual and relationship factors that differentiate female offenders ( n = 131) with a history of sexual abuse and female offenders without a history of sexual abuse. Results from chi-square, t test, and logistic regression analyses indicated that offenders with a history of sexual abuse were more likely to report their household as loving, were more deeply involved in the criminal justice system, had more difficulty staying employed, and were more likely to be involved in an abusive relationship. Implications of the results are discussed.