The Continuing Myth of the Violent Female Offender

Abstract

There have been periodic “discoveries” of the violent female offender as well as dire predictions of an increase in violence committed by women. The authors examine the pattern of violent crime by women over a long period of time to determine whether or not the “problem” of increasing violence is a myth. The authors conclude that women’s contribution to violent crime has been and continues to make up a small percentage, except for crime categories that are highly vulnerable to changes in system responses.