KRM 320
THEME 1: GENERAL ISSUES IN RELATION TO STUDYING
FEMALE CRIME
An overview of some general issues pertinent to female crime
Women consistently have lower official crime rate (published by gov –
stats SA, SAPS, dep of correctional services, courts).
SAPS don’t classify crime according to gender.
Indication of crime rate for women = prison population (3%) –
o Gauteng –
45% of women = economic crimes.
38% of women = aggressive crimes.
10% of women = drug-related crimes.
6% of women = undefined crimes.
0.6% of women = sexual crimes.
Poor theoretical development in women offending.
Difficult for society to identify with women offenders = contrast to how
society reacted to discovery of women as victims (easy to identify
women as victims of crimes rather than law-breakers).
Society views women offenders as double-problematic (traditional
gender role – connotations of a women, when they break the law they
transgress these unwritten rules of women).
If we cannot study/understand the cause of crime (esp. female crime),
how can we prevent/control/predict it.
Overview of reliability and validity of official crime statistics with specific
reference to women offending
Fohring –
, o Dark figure of crime:
Unreported crime.
Half overall crimes (may be higher for sexual offences).
o Reasons for non-reporting:
By not reporting, victim maintains ownership of conflict
(once reported it becomes an issue between state and
offender – role victim just a witness).
Reporting leaves victims subject to scorn, humiliating
cross-examination, disbelief, ostracizing and
disappointment and disillusionment with failure of CJS.
Victims motivated to avoid being labelled as victims (crime
is not considered a crime as there is no victim – not
reported to police).
o Supportive info on victim studies and self-report studies:
Young men (16-24)/living in high occupant dwellings in
urban area/affected by unemployment/history of offending
= greater risk of victimization and lower likelihood of
reporting.
Relationship between deprivation, victimization and non-
reporting.
Doorewaard –
o Dark figure of crime:
Gap between true extent of crime and crime known to the
police.
Absent from official police stats.
Portion of total crimes committed each year that never
comes to light.
, Crimes not reported to law enforcement that may or may
not have occurred in specific period of time, whether only
known to victim or more witnesses who may decide to not
report such crimes.
o Reasons for non-reporting:
View crime as too trivial to report.
Fear retaliation or revictimization.
Perception of police and courts (criminals get to walk
away/police brutality/unwillingness to investigate crimes).
Extent of crimes that are normally addressed.
Consequences for the offender (labelling/humiliation) esp.
in cases of minor crimes.
People don’t know what is happening to them is a crime.
o Supportive info on victim studies and self-report studies:
Previous convictions impact sentencing.
Criminals tend to escalate in crime.
Well reported crime –
o Murder.
o Theft (for insurance benefits).
Underreported crime –
o Domestic violence.
o Sexual offences.
Diligent and accurate recording of crime by police is important –
o Recorded crime leads to further action.
o Reported incidents are analyzed = reveals emerging threats +
determined how policing agencies prioritize their resources in
specific geographical areas.
, o Emerging crime threats need additional government funding
which cannot be justified if the threat remains hidden.
o Procedural justice (symbolic acknowledgement and validation
for victims – police are seeking justice).
o Alerts other agencies that victims of crime need support and
safeguarding (no report = no investigation = victims exposed to
further risk).
Grey figure of crime = non-criming crime incidents, police ‘fix-up’ stats
of crime.
55-65% of crime remains unreported (dark figure of crime).
Visible v invisible parts of crime problem changes constantly –
o At certain times, crime levels can be higher or lower.
o Immediate reaction to increased crime level = country has to
cope with crime wave.
o Alternate explanations for rising crime rates (more
reporting/more intensive policing, not necessarily more crime).
Not all crime reported leads to arrest, prosecution, conviction and
punishment.
Funnel of CJS (dark figure of reported crimes) = for every 1000
crimes committed, 450 are reported, 230 lead to arrest, 100 lead to
prosecution, 77 to conviction, 36 receive prison, 8 prison longer than
2 years.
Chivalry hypothesis –
o Explanation for underrepresentation of women in CJS.
o Women receive favorable treatment by decision makers in CJS
because there is a perception that women need protection.
Bridge limitations of official crime stats (2 research strats) –
o Victim surveys.
THEME 1: GENERAL ISSUES IN RELATION TO STUDYING
FEMALE CRIME
An overview of some general issues pertinent to female crime
Women consistently have lower official crime rate (published by gov –
stats SA, SAPS, dep of correctional services, courts).
SAPS don’t classify crime according to gender.
Indication of crime rate for women = prison population (3%) –
o Gauteng –
45% of women = economic crimes.
38% of women = aggressive crimes.
10% of women = drug-related crimes.
6% of women = undefined crimes.
0.6% of women = sexual crimes.
Poor theoretical development in women offending.
Difficult for society to identify with women offenders = contrast to how
society reacted to discovery of women as victims (easy to identify
women as victims of crimes rather than law-breakers).
Society views women offenders as double-problematic (traditional
gender role – connotations of a women, when they break the law they
transgress these unwritten rules of women).
If we cannot study/understand the cause of crime (esp. female crime),
how can we prevent/control/predict it.
Overview of reliability and validity of official crime statistics with specific
reference to women offending
Fohring –
, o Dark figure of crime:
Unreported crime.
Half overall crimes (may be higher for sexual offences).
o Reasons for non-reporting:
By not reporting, victim maintains ownership of conflict
(once reported it becomes an issue between state and
offender – role victim just a witness).
Reporting leaves victims subject to scorn, humiliating
cross-examination, disbelief, ostracizing and
disappointment and disillusionment with failure of CJS.
Victims motivated to avoid being labelled as victims (crime
is not considered a crime as there is no victim – not
reported to police).
o Supportive info on victim studies and self-report studies:
Young men (16-24)/living in high occupant dwellings in
urban area/affected by unemployment/history of offending
= greater risk of victimization and lower likelihood of
reporting.
Relationship between deprivation, victimization and non-
reporting.
Doorewaard –
o Dark figure of crime:
Gap between true extent of crime and crime known to the
police.
Absent from official police stats.
Portion of total crimes committed each year that never
comes to light.
, Crimes not reported to law enforcement that may or may
not have occurred in specific period of time, whether only
known to victim or more witnesses who may decide to not
report such crimes.
o Reasons for non-reporting:
View crime as too trivial to report.
Fear retaliation or revictimization.
Perception of police and courts (criminals get to walk
away/police brutality/unwillingness to investigate crimes).
Extent of crimes that are normally addressed.
Consequences for the offender (labelling/humiliation) esp.
in cases of minor crimes.
People don’t know what is happening to them is a crime.
o Supportive info on victim studies and self-report studies:
Previous convictions impact sentencing.
Criminals tend to escalate in crime.
Well reported crime –
o Murder.
o Theft (for insurance benefits).
Underreported crime –
o Domestic violence.
o Sexual offences.
Diligent and accurate recording of crime by police is important –
o Recorded crime leads to further action.
o Reported incidents are analyzed = reveals emerging threats +
determined how policing agencies prioritize their resources in
specific geographical areas.
, o Emerging crime threats need additional government funding
which cannot be justified if the threat remains hidden.
o Procedural justice (symbolic acknowledgement and validation
for victims – police are seeking justice).
o Alerts other agencies that victims of crime need support and
safeguarding (no report = no investigation = victims exposed to
further risk).
Grey figure of crime = non-criming crime incidents, police ‘fix-up’ stats
of crime.
55-65% of crime remains unreported (dark figure of crime).
Visible v invisible parts of crime problem changes constantly –
o At certain times, crime levels can be higher or lower.
o Immediate reaction to increased crime level = country has to
cope with crime wave.
o Alternate explanations for rising crime rates (more
reporting/more intensive policing, not necessarily more crime).
Not all crime reported leads to arrest, prosecution, conviction and
punishment.
Funnel of CJS (dark figure of reported crimes) = for every 1000
crimes committed, 450 are reported, 230 lead to arrest, 100 lead to
prosecution, 77 to conviction, 36 receive prison, 8 prison longer than
2 years.
Chivalry hypothesis –
o Explanation for underrepresentation of women in CJS.
o Women receive favorable treatment by decision makers in CJS
because there is a perception that women need protection.
Bridge limitations of official crime stats (2 research strats) –
o Victim surveys.
