Female Criminality in Omaha

Sex plays an increasing role in crime, but the differentiation of the sexes in criminality is gradually decreasing since the social and economic equality of the sexes has become more parallel. In other words, crime committed by women is on the increase as this study shows. This is particularly marked in urban centers. culture patterns of the rural areas are greatly retarded in respect to sex equality. ratio of crime among women to that of man in the urban areas is about three times as great as in rural. In general, recidivism among women is much less than with men. The variations in the ratio of female to male delinquents indicate that the ratiQ is not determined by sex differences as such, but is affected by many social elements, such as conditions of life and training, codes of behavior and ideals. There may be a tendency for juries and judges to be more sympathetic towards accused women. It is difficult to ascertain the number of women who may be criminal powers behind the thrones. male partner in crime is thus detected while the woman's behavior is very seldom questioned. This article is a brief analysis of data secured from a study of female arrests as recorded by the Omaha police from 1930 to 1934 inclusive. occupation, the race, offense and disposition of the cases were noted. During this period, 9277 women were arrested. In analyzing the distribution of arrests during these five years, we find that the year 1930 was the lowest in number of arrests, having 1,321, or 14.1 percent, of the five years' arrests. In 1931, the arrests increased to 2,090, or 22.2 per cent, of the grand total. Then there was a drop in 1932, followed by another decrease in 1933, which had a total of 1,830 arrests. percentage for this year was 19.7, or a decrease from 1931 of 2.5 per cent. We find, too, that 1930 and 1933 are the two low years for arrests during the period of this study. However, this decrease which seemed encouraging in 1933, proved to be rather misleading, and in 1934 the total arrests soared to a new high mark of 2,101, or 23.0 per cent of the arrests made

Criminology · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology

• Frustration and aggression.

  John Dollard, Neal E Miller et al.•1939

  Add to list