Women who offend

Edited by Gill McIvor, Jessica Kingsley Publishers,

ISBN 1843101548, £18.95

STAR RATING 3/5

It is perhaps over-ambitious to pitch this book, that houses a useful collection of feminist research into offending, at policymakers and professionals, but it would provide a good introductory text to anyone reading criminology or related disciplines, writes Jonathan White.

The book briefly covers the conflict between welfare policy and the reality of intervention services that are available. To be of any real benefit to policymakers and other professionals the book should have dedicated more space to the discussion surrounding government and judiciary responsibilities. Instead, it provides a detailed discussion on theories of female offending and the impact of community and custodial sentencing, many of which are not exclusive to feminist criminology.

In parts, it almost served to deconstruct the seriousness of female offending and offered no recognition to the impact that crime has on its victims.

The book would also have benefited from more discussion on female involvement in disorder as well as crime. In a climate where antisocial behaviour and disorder are priorities for policymakers, some dedication to this new legislation would have given the book a more contemporary flavour.

Jonathan White is a policy officer at Denbighshire Council