Deck 13: Female Offenders Psychology of Criminal Behaviour

Question 1

A researcher,interested in looking at factors associated with criminal activity in a group of female offenders,interviews girls and women and allows them to tell their stories in their own voice.The researcher then analyses the words.This approach is most consistent with a (an):

A)quantitative approach
B)applied correctional feminist perspective
C)feminist pathways perspective
D)a positivist approach

Answer 1

feminist pathways perspective

Question 2

All of the following are major criticisms of early research on female offenders except:

A)many studies focused on risk factors outside of a female's control
B)it was sexist and inappropriately focused on female sexuality,biology,and psychology
C)many theories ignored female offenders entirely
D)many researchers assumed that research on male offenders would apply to female offenders without studying females

Answer 2

many studies focused on risk factors outside of a female's control

Question 3

Greenfeld and Snell (1999) identified that when females commit non-familial homicide,there is some evidence that their motives are:

A)more likely to be drug- or alcohol-related than for males
B)more linked to survival motives than for males
C)the mirror of the motivation of males
D)based on economic necessity or safely needs

Answer 3

the mirror of the motivation of males

Question 4

Historically,crime committed by females has been highly sensationalized and thus,has been a common area of study and research.

Question 5

Diane is a woman of Aboriginal heritage who has been convicted and sentenced to a federal correctional institution.If you wanted to place her in a facility that promoted Aboriginal spirituality and traditions,you would likely want to send her to:

A)the Kingston Prison for Women (P4W)
B)any federal institution,as all current federal institutions have specialized support programs for Aboriginal women
C)any federal institution,as none of the current federal institutions have specialized support programs for Aboriginal women
D)the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge in Saskatchewan

Question 6

Both Mary and Joe come from households where there were family and substance abuse risk factors for crime.According to the research,who is more likely to be more sensitive to these factors?

A)Both Mary and Joe will be equally sensitive to these factors
B)Neither Mary and Joe will be sensitive to these factors
C)Joe
D)Mary

Question 7

According to PIC-R theory,which of the following options is MOST powerful in predicting crime?

A)antisocial cognitions,associates,and personality
B)lower class or economic disadvantage
C)substance abuse
D)marital factors (such as domestic violence)

Question 8

Prior to 1975,the focus on the female offender traditionally focused on:

A)the 'criminalized survivor' perspective
B)biological and sexuality factors
C)the 'nasty girl' hypothesis
D)impulsivity

Question 9

The concern raised about how some risk assessment tools result in the "over-classification" of female offenders refers to the fact that some tools:

A)oversimplify the criminogenic needs of female offenders
B)fail to identify female offenders who eventually reoffend
C)are more likely to recommend treating women who do not need treatment
D)rank women as being higher risk offenders than they actually are

Question 10

Which of the following is true about protective factors against crime for female offenders?

A)Mental health issues are protective factors for females but risk factors for males
B)Females and males do not differ in terms of the prevalence of protective factors
C)Protective factors against crime have been studied more for female than for male offenders
D)Having more than one child is a protective factor for females as well as males

Question 11

According to Andrews and Bonta's (2006) Personal,Interpersonal,and Community-Reinforcement (PIC-R) theory,generally women will commit a crime when:

A)they have been victimized repeatedly
B)the rewards exceed the costs
C)they have a dysfunctional family background
D)they are economically disadvantaged and socially marginalized

Question 12

According to the New Zealand Dunedin Study,the ratio of "adolescent-limited" criminal behaviours is 10:1 for males to females.

Question 13

Treatment targets that must be considered for female offenders that are rarely considered for male offenders are:

A)childcare and prenatal needs
B)substance abuse
C)mental health issues
D)education and employment training

Question 14

Which of the following is one of the 5 basic principles that guide programming for female offenders?

A)independence training
B)reduction of risk factors
C)empowerment
D)identification of external influences

Question 15

Girls and women commit substantially less criminal behaviour than boys and men.

Question 16

According to the Canadian data,males outnumber females in all forms of non-violent crime except:

A)prostitution
B)property crimes
C)theft
D)drug-related offenses

Question 17

If you were concerned with the "over-classification" of women and want to reduce the number of women assigned to the highest level of secure custody,you would be advised to use:

A)the SRSW classification tool
B)professional judgment
C)a gender-neutral risk instrument
D)statistical-based approaches

Question 18

You are responsible for designing a treatment program for youthful female offenders.Based on Dowden and Andrews (1999) study,you would be best to focus on

A)no treatment at all
B)empowerment training
C)programs based on the general responsivity principle
D)a program that does not adhere to any particular treatment principle

Question 19

One of the major critiques of gender-neutral treatment programs is that they:

A)don't really work well
B)tend to ignore immediate and distal ecological factors
C)are only based on small scale research studies and qualitative data
D)focus on only addressing educational and economic factors and not on other well-known risk factors

Question 20

Women's violence is more likely to be directed at intimate partners than with males.

Question 21

Explain the three broad approaches to risk assessment for female offenders.

Question 22

According to Andrews and Bonta's (2006) PIC-R model,belonging to an economically and socially disadvantaged class is one of the most powerful risk factors in predicting criminal behaviour.

Question 23

Explain the conclusions of the research collectively known as feminist pathways research.

Question 24

Describe the limitations of the first theories of female offending.

Question 25

An important outcome of the Task Force on Federally Sentenced Women established by CSC in 1989 was the opening of smaller regional correctional facilities,including an Aboriginal healing lodge,for female offenders.

Question 26

A main strength of the feminist pathways perspective is that it tends to be 'multi-dimensional',focusing multiple pathways to female criminal behaviour.

Question 27

Describe the prevalence and nature of female perpetrated crime as revealed by official statistics and unofficial data.

Question 28

Canada's approach to corrections has always been progressive and considered the unique needs of female offenders

Question 29

Women are likely to be already involved in crime before becoming involved in substance abuse,whereas males are more likely to be involved in substance abuse prior to becoming involved in crime.

Question 30

Explain the "offence gestalt" differences between females and males.

Question 31

Contrast the major differences between the feminist pathways perspective and the Personal,Interpersonal,and Community - Reinforcement (PIC-R) theory.What are the major strengths and weaknesses of each approach?

Question 32

Internalizing mental health problems are predictors of crime in women,particularly if they experience more than one simultaneously.

Question 33

Describe what gender-neutral and gender-informed risk assessment tools are,providing an example of each,and explain the limitations of each type of tool.

Question 34

Women who indicate that for them "marital/family holds no value" were more likely to recidivate than women who believed that marriage and family do have value.

Question 35

One major critique of gender neutral risk assessment instruments is that 'gender-neutral' is actually inherently male biased.

Question 36

Describe the specific treatment targets for female offenders.