female offenders

Female offenders, while rare, are a growing group in the realm of violent offending. Denying female violence suggests a denial of female agency. Compared to male offenders, women exhibit different patterns of violence, with a notable trend in their increasing participation in violent crimes:

1. Violence Statistics

   • In Victoria, research showed that nearly 1 in 5 women in prison had assault offences as their most serious crime.

   • In the US and Canada, violent offence rates for women have increased nearly threefold over the past 30 years.

2. Patterns of Female Violence

   • Women rarely commit violence against strangers; they are more likely to harm intimate partners or children.

3. Trends Over Time

   • Data from the Australian Institute of Criminology indicates an 18% increase in assault rates for male offenders and a significant 49% increase for female offenders over 14 years.

   • In the New South Wales Children's Court:

     • Acts intended to cause injury represented 36% of matters for young females in 2012, up from 13.8% in 1989.

     • A 10-year study indicated a 36% rise in juvenile female offenders compared to an 8% increase in male juvenile offending.

4. Current Trends

   • From 2014 to 2023, female offending rates continue to rise, impacting the female prison population as well.

The reasons behind the rising trajectory of female violence are multifaceted and will be explored in future discussions.