Book Review: Women who offend

Women who offend

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