The Ministry of Justice has just published a set of stats which look at female offenders who have what they call ‘dependents’, or what most of us call, children.
The government says this data has been released because there appears to be a rising interest in this area, and we are delighted to hear it. Invaluable research and ground breaking projects like the ones Tracey McMahon is working on over at SHE will no doubt be contributing to this push for more information about this group of women and their children, and how best to support them.
These are the vital stats you need to know:
- Between 24% and 31% of all female offenders were estimated to have one or
more child dependents. - In comparison, the 2011 census showed that 36% of households with a
female adult had dependent children. - On average, those with child dependents had 1.9 children.
- Office for National Statistics figures show that the average number of
dependent children per family in 2012 was 1.7. - Female offenders aged 25 to 44 were most likely to have child dependents.
- Among the different disposal types, women receiving immediate custody were
significantly less likely to have child dependents (between 13% and 19%)
The vast majority of offences committed by mothers are summary ones (minor offences which can include burglary and drugs), closely followed by theft and handling of stolen goods – a clear indicator, we feel, that these women are not stealing for ‘fun’ but out of desperation. The recession and relentless cutbacks to benefits and services are more than likely contributing to this phenomenon.
The report is well worth a read.
At the risk of stating the bleedin’ obvious, might not some blokes be doing this too? I’m not saying this isn’t worth a read, it is, but I’m fairly sure the same applies to men, probably particularly single dads or those shafted by the CSA.
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They may well be, but the government didn’t send us stats for that 🙂
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Hello Roger,
I have a year’s worth of statistics, outcomes and results from our INCAS Project, which is a male-only project.
My findings have shown and it is proven, men do isolate, particularly if they are trouble
While committing crimes is not gender-specific, the needs of men and women are very different. Most of our women have committed crimes to provide for children. Providing for children is a three-dimensional scope. Fleeing domestic violence is the most common occurrence and with this comes a lack of safe accommodation and a whole array of needs. Most of our men have committed crimes due to substance misuse/violence and in a couple of cases, due to relationship breakdowns and deprivation of seeing their children.
There are less services for men in terms of holistic needs. Certainly in the area I work within. Men are more susceptible to suicide and homelessness is far more prevalent in males than females.
I see Natasha has linked to our women’s project, but please don’t despair. There are project’s supporting males from the Criminal Justice System and looking after men’s needs.
Thank you as always, to Natasha.
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Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
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Eve Was Framed is an amazing read showing how despite the myth, women receive much longer sentences for similar crimes committed by men.
Dr Lynne Wrennell created an exonomic plan that would stop all this crime and get rid of all benefits by giving every human man woman and child an amount of money to fulfill all human needs.
It would save a fortune and increase economic growth and decrease crime and suffering.
http://stoptherecession.weebly.com/
There is no shortage of money per say- its simply that the top % claim ownership of it.
Mother Earth gave all her children all they need for free. No one has a receipt to say she sold any part of herself to anyone……yet Vatican claimed ownership of Her and her people – Us.
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Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
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Very enlightening. Thank you for it.
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Thanks to Tracey and to LadyPortia for your instructive comments. Mother Nature certainly gave us all we need for free – but unfortunately not all that we want! Would the ‘money to fulfil all human needs’ include a house for everyone, and the land to grow your own food on? We’re getting in to deep waters here. Some would start arguing that, say, they lived in the far North so their needs would include a greenhouse and lighting for their food crops, and those in the south would say no, that’s unfair. . . .
I say, make the best of whatever you’ve got.
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