Why women offend?: a gendered approach to criminal behavior, prison context and treatment

Abstract

Crime is a complex phenomenon that permeates and deeply affects our societies. Even though there are innumerable studies on criminal behaviour, research has overlooked the gender variable, which is a significant difference in the explanation of human behaviour. This generates not only theoretical gaps but also difficulties in the understanding, explanation and possible solution of this phenomenon. Thus, a literature review was carried out regarding gender differences in criminal behaviour, prison context, and treatment for social reintegration, where it was possible to identify 59 articles selected from the main scientific databases during the 2005-2020 time frame. As a result, we found that female offenders must be subjected to a particular treatment, designed according to the particular characteristics of their criminal profile and the special needs that their own gender entails. The foregoing implies a multi-causal and multidisciplinary approach that directs the development of programmes that are able to serve this population in a pertinent and effective way.