Women, Crime and Drugs

Abstract

This paper is directed towards an examination of the relationship between substance abuse among women and related patterns of crime. Women are still primarily property offenders and juvenile offenders are still predominantly taken into custody for larceny/theft and running away from home. In contrast to males, female addicts are likely to be younger, white, and less dependent on illegal activities for income. Their choice of criminal activities is consistent with their skills and opportunities which explains their involvement in prostitution, larceny/theft, and drug sales. Estimates of the extent of female addict participation in prostitution as well as other offenses varies extensively because of the failure to clarify whether these figures refer to exclusive, primary, or secondary participation. Two typologies are examined to help clarify this question.