Gehring (2016)

Abstract

  • Study examines Pathways Theory through quantitative analysis.

  • Utilizes a path analytic approach with measures from 263 pretrial defendants (163 male, 103 female).

  • Findings highlight a pathway to pretrial failure primarily for women, linking childhood abuse, mental illness, and substance abuse.

  • Implications for correctional risk/needs assessments and programs for justice-involved women.

Introduction

  • Feminist Criminology and Traditional Theories

    • Critiques of traditional criminological theories for their male-centric perspectives.

    • Need for understanding female offending through a gender-responsive lens.

  • Pathways Theory

    • Suggests distinct pathways exist for men and women into the criminal justice system.

    • Key components: abuse histories, relational issues, mental health, substance abuse.

    • Advocates for the importance of examining women’s backgrounds pre-offending.

Pathways Theory Research

  • Historical Context

    • Major contributions from qualitative methodology on women’s pathways to crime.

    • Calls for quantitative investigations to validate findings.

  • Pathways Theory Components

    • Common pathways for women include survival and substance abuse.

    • Observations made by Daly on women’s experiences before felony court:

      1. "Harmed and harming" women

      2. "Street" women

      3. "Battered" women

      4. "Drug-addicted" women

      5. "Other" women (with no abuse histories)

Literature Review

  • Impact of Abuse

    • Significant correlation between histories of abuse and criminal behavior.

    • Notable scholars (e.g., Chesney-Lind) emphasize disparity between girls' and boys' pathways into crime.

  • Qualitative and Quantitative Studies

    • Studies illustrate varied pathways and confirm links between abuse and offending.

    • Reisig et al. (2006) and Salisbury & Van Voorhis (2009) develop quantitative assessments but face limitations in sample diversity and assessment tools.

Methodology

  • Data Collection

    • Utilized the Inventory of Need Pretrial Screening Tool (ION) in Hamilton County, Ohio.

    • Sample comprised of both male and female pretrial defendants.

  • Variables Assessed

    • Variables include childhood abuse (physical and sexual), mental health, substance abuse, and outcomes (failure to appear, new arrests).

Results

  • Correlations

    • For women: significant relationships found between mental health, substance abuse, and pretrial failure outcomes.

    • For men: fewer correlations noted, indicating gender differences in pathways.

  • Path Analysis

    • Women showed an indirect pathway where abuse leads to mental health issues and then to substance abuse, affecting pretrial failures.

    • Men did not exhibit the same interlinked pathway.

Discussion

  • Theoretical Contributions

    • Study supports Pathways Theory and underlines gender differences in criminal justice involvement.

    • Suggests traditional models inadequately address women's needs.

  • Practical Implications

    • Develop gender-responsive assessments considering unique risk factors for women.

    • Emphasizes need for comprehensive treatment models targeting trauma and mental health issues.

Limitations and Future Research

  • Recommendations for longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships.

  • Cautions about the retrospective nature of abuse measurements and generalizability of findings due to sample limitations.

Conclusion

  • Study advances understanding of female pathways to pretrial failure, underscoring the role of childhood abuse, mental health, and substance abuse in shaping women's criminal justice experiences.

  • Urges for implementation of gender-responsive practices to enhance outcomes for women in the justice system.