Women in Criminal Justice

The modern criminal justice system worldwide is marred with gender-based
discrimination, which creates substantial impediments to achieving justice for all. Women are
disproportionately affected by this problem because they encounter significant obstacles in
accessing justice irrespective of whether they are witnesses, victims, prisoners, or alleged
offenders.
The study of women in the criminal justice system, particularly in law enforcement and
as victims or criminals, is vital to the discussion on criminal justice and crime. According to
Camenius and Sandman (2021), a review of the background of female offenders and the
life circumstances of women establishes effective ways for preventing and addressing the role of
women in the criminal justice system. Scholars and experts of criminal justice have demonstrated
gender variations in decision-making.
The study of women has enhanced the understanding of the challenges they face in the
criminal justice system. The significant barriers experienced by women seeking employment in
correctional facilities include sexual stereotyping, veterans’ preference system, privacy rights of
inmates, safety considerations for women held in male-dominated correctional institutions, and
the issue of assignment equality between the sexes (Camenius & Sandman, 2021).
The sentencing literature has shown that gender variations favoring women significantly
exist in the criminal justice system that race differences. Studies concerning women in the
criminal justice system have further demonstrated that court systems usually favor women in two
significant areas. In criminal cases, for example, Camenius and Sandman (2021) find that women
get shorter sentences than their male counterparts, even with previous criminal records and
similar offenses.

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Conclusively, studying women in criminal justice is crucial for understanding the barriers
they face when seeking employment in corrections, such as sexual stereotyping, the privacy of
inmates’ rights, safety considerations in correctional environments, and veterans’ preference
system. It is also crucial for establishing effective ways for averting and addressing the role of
women in the criminal justice system.

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Reference

Camenius, R., & Sandman, T. (2021). Women in the Malestream Study of Crime: Exploring
Three Swedish Journals throughout the Last Century. Women & Criminal Justice, 1-19.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epub/10.1080/08974454.2021.1958731?needAccess=tr
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