Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Persistent Female Offending: A Review of Theory and Research.

Though more common among males, there is evidence to suggest that a small group of female offenders exhibit chronic offending patterns that begin in childhood and continue well into adulthood. Here we draw from empirical evidence and theoretical propositions to outline the biological, psychological, and social factors implicated in persistent female offending. We also discuss overlap and divergence in the onset and persistence of chronic offending across females and males. In the end, we propose that despite some overlap, gendered variation in the causes and consequences of persistent offending are notable enough to warrant distinct attention to females on the part of scholars and policy makers. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]