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Partners in crime

A study of the relationship between female offenders and their co-defendants

University of Bristol, UK

Criminologists have paid relatively little attention to the relationships between male and female co-offenders. Most of the published research has been published in the USA and relates to the street-level drugs economy. In this project, 50 sentenced adult women were interviewed in an English prison about their criminal involvement with co-defendants. The picture that emerged revealed the widespread use of devices by males ranging from various forms of manipulation to direct physical coercion in order to ensure female compliance with their criminal activities. These findings stand in contrast to statements in some of the more recent literature, which seek to emphasize women's agency in their offending behaviour. The implications of these findings for the criminal liability and sentencing of women are discussed.

Key Words: agency • co-defendants • coercion • sentencing • women

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