Sex Differences in the Jail Population: Competing Explanations

Abstract

Data from the 1978 National Survey of Jail Inmates were used to examine sex differences in local jail populations. In particular, the study focused on the patterns of sex differences in the data which might be expected, depending upon whether the criminal justice system's response to female offenders is based on (a) preferential treatment, (b) paternalism, or (c) equal treatment. It was found that while some sex differences supported preferential treatment arguments and others supported the idea of paternalism, there was no consistent pattern of sex differences and the widest support was provided for the idea that males and females are afforded equal treatment.