Increased awareness of female offenders
Female offenders are rare, but they do exist. Nearly half of the respondents in the survey, 47.5 per cent, said that they worked on cases involving female offenders during 2015. However, the vast majority of the police officers reported that it only makes up a very small number of investigations.
|
52,5 % |
|
25,8 % |
|
15,4 % |
|
6,2 % |
A fifth, 20.9 per cent, of police officers in the survey are of the opinion that the number of female offenders is increasing. However, it is not a clear trend, 35.6 per cent said that they had not seen any change and 41.5 per cent said that they don’t know.
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42,1 % |
|
36,2 % |
|
20,9 % |
|
0,8 % |
The reason for the uncertain answers is probably that female offenders are so rare in police investigations that it is difficult to plot a trend. This is also reflected in the comments.
”In 11 years, I have only had one female offender.”
”I’ve only had one female suspect in 16 years.”
Are women induced by men?
Many of the police officers said in the comments that most female offenders are induced by men, but opinions on this differ.
”I have seen a large number of images/videos involving women sexually abusing children but there generally seems to be a man also involved. I don’t recall seeing any where the woman is the main abuser.”
“Induced to offend by a male”
“I have only had one case where a female early years educator said she was sexually attracted to children. She was not distributing for a male partner.”
“Have found child sexual abuse material where females are actively participating in the acts with children.”
Increasing awareness
Several of the comments highlight that the increasing awareness of female offenders leads to more women being found and arrested, which in turn leads to an experienced, but not actual, increase.
”Agent awareness and debunking stereotypes.”
”Most criminal behaviours separating female from male offenders are weakening or dissolving altogether.”
”We are more aware of it [female offenders].”
Comments about the result:
Three different voices on female offenders
Michael Bourke, United States Marshals Service.
Female offenders are more prevalent than people think – some studies estimate that more than…
Jim Cole, Homeland Security.
The number of female offenders are increasing in the investigations that we deal with…
Kevin Lawes, Homeland Security.
There is very little data on female sex offenders, and many people just don’t see women as potential offenders…