The Relationship between Female Criminality and Drug Use

Abstract

A 2-year study of four groups of women (N = 268)--addicts, prostitute-addicts, prostitutes, and female offenders--reveals that the link between female criminal activity and female drug involvement is significant. All four groups report "drug costs" as a major percentage of their monthly expenses. Prostitutes and female offenders report purchasing drugs mainly for resale. Female offenders report most of their income as coming from drugs sales, shoplifting, and larceny. For all of the women addicted to heroin, reselling drugs and prostitution were the usual means of support. There is insufficient evidence at this point in the research to link the use of a specific category of drugs to specific types of offenses. The main determinants in choice of crime for these subjects were skill and opportunity.

Pathways through opiate use and offending: A systematic review

“…Nine studies did not report ethnicity; elsewhere ethnic group was White, Black, Mexican American, Hispanic and Native American. Five studies (Gordon, 1973, James et al, 1979, Mott and Rathod, 1976, Parker and Newcombe, 1987, Cushman, 1974) reported use of a comparison group. Quality scores ranged from 3 to 7, out of a possible 9.…”

Time-series analysis of the female percentage of arrests for property crimes, 1960–1985: A test of alternative explanations

“…For example, the rise in female property crime (i.e., arrests) may be due largely to rising levels of illicit drug use by females over the past two or three decades (Elliott et al 1987). Although drug dependency affects the criminality of both sexes, it appears to have had a greater impact on female than on male involvement in property crimes (Anglin, Yih-Ing, and Booth 1987;James, Gosho, and Wohl 1979). On the assumption that females face stronger constraints against crime (e.g., it is more stigmatizing), drug dependency provides a stronger motivation for female than for male involvement 9 Although this study fails to find a relationship between gender equality and gender differentials in crime, it does not undermine the importance of continued research on gender stratification and the impact of gender roles and gender equality on society.…”

Youth prostitution: a literature review

“…One discussion in the literature on this topic deals with the effects of drug use as facilitating or hindering prostitution (James et al, 1979;Silverman, 1982;Philpot et al, 1989;Miller, 1995). The use of drugs, especially amphetamines, to cope with the long and late hours of prostitution has been described 'Amphetamines to cope with the long and late hours of prostitution' (Donovan, 1984;Barnard et al, 1993;de Graff et al, 1994;Miller, 1995).…”