The rise of female imprisonment in Scotland

Burman, M. and McIvor, G. (2013) The rise of female imprisonment in Scotland. Scottish Journal of Criminal Justice Studies, 19, pp. 28-42.

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Publisher's URL: http://www.sastudyoffending.org.uk/journal

Abstract

Offending by women differs in a number of important ways from offending by men: it is less common, less frequent and less serious (Burman 2004; McIvor 2007; Gelb 2010; Schwartz and Steffensmeier 2007)). Women are typically convicted of relatively minor crimes that pose less public risk and, because they are usually convicted of offences that are less serious than those committed by men, they are less likely than men to receive custodial sentences. However, female imprisonment has increased dramatically in many western jurisdictions over the last 15-20 years as evidenced by significant increases in the numbers given sentences of imprisonment, in daily female prison populations, and in the rate of imprisonment of women (McIvor 2010). Indeed, in many countries, including Australia, England and Wales, New Zealand, Scotland and the US, the female prison population has increased at a faster rate than the male prison population in recent years (Walmsley 2012).

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Burman, Professor Michele
Authors: Burman, M., and McIvor, G.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
Journal Name:Scottish Journal of Criminal Justice Studies
Publisher:The Scottish Association for the Study of Offending
ISSN:1360-4449

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