Describe Increasing Numbers of Women Offenders

Increasing Numbers of Women Offenders
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Increasing Numbers of Women Offenders
In recent decades, the number of women under the criminal justice supervision has significantly increased. According to the US department of justice, the number of women within the prison system, on parole and probation is on the increase in the US since the 1990s (Glaze, 2010). Even though female crimes have a smaller percentage compared to men because women tend to be less violent, the number of women offenders has a negative impact on society.
There are several causes contributing to the increasing number of women offenders in the criminal justice system. The paper intends to discuss the three major causes contributing to the increase in the number of women offenders. The paper will explain how the increased number of women offenders impacts on society and explain possible reasons why women commit fewer violent crimes as compared to men.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there has been an overall increase of five percent in the number of violent crimes within the first 6 months of 2016. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault (Federal Bureau of Investigation (n.d.). The war on drugs and some of its related policies have directly contributed to the increase in the number of women committing drug related crimes. More than a quarter of women in prisons are arrested because of drugs as compared to the male population. Many women are in prison because of their romantic of other relationships with male drug dealers (Glaze, 2010). According to the FBI, investigation reports 40 percent of women’s conviction resulted in incarceration for drug crimes (Federal Bureau of Investigation (n.d.).
The increased number of women offenders within the criminal justice system is contributed by the change of the social role of women, family problems cause's psychological insecurities affecting many women. Lack of the necessary parenting skills majorly pushes women to engage in crime (Glaze, 2010). In reference to Aileen Wuornos’ case who was executed for murdering seven men in central Florida, she was a highway prostitute who earned a living through prostitution (Koch, 2002). Aileen's criminal record was filled with various crimes committed as a teenager, including shoplifting, aggressive outburst, theft, drug possession and many others. She lived in a dysfunctional family filled with abuse and abandonment that drove her to engage in various crimes (Koch, 2002).
How the increasing number of women offenders might affect society
One of the major impacts, when women are impriso...