| Popis: |
An emerging research area in the field of corrections is the gender-responsive perspective which advocates for a paradigm shift in the way women offenders are supervised and treated in the correctional system. Based largely on the work of noted feminist criminological scholars, the gender-responsive perspective highlights the extensive life disadvantages and social circumstances that put girls and women at risk of resorting to criminal conduct. Needs such as economic hardship, victimization, mental illness, addiction, self-efficacy, and dysfunctional intimate relationships are argued to significantly contribute to women’s decisions to use criminal means of coping and survival. While the qualitative research in this area has become quite extensive, little empirical work has been conducted. This dissertation contributes to the emerging literature by empirically testing four path analyses investigating women offender pathways to recidivism. Path models are based on theories from gender-responsive and traditional, gender-neutral (i.e., social learning theory) perspectives, as well as from a social capital/desistance framework. Findings indicate varying degrees of support for all four path models, suggesting that (1) women have multiple routes to sustained offending behavior based on both gender-neutral and gender-responsive theoretical foundations and (2) there is value in continuing the investigation of women’s unique routes to recidivism. |
