Abstract

The general objective of the study was to describe the extent and type of female involvement in crime and analyse the type of crimes in which women have been most visible. A total of 23 questionnaires were distributed to respondents (inmates.) The location of the study was Kaduna State. The units of response were the female inmates in Kaduna prisons. This was because the female inmates were in a better position to furnish the researcher with the information needed on the socio-economic correlation of female criminality in Nigeria. The result of the study showed that women in Kaduna state committed crimes traditionally attributed to women in the literature, such as stealing and fighting. There were indications that women were getting involved in traditional male crimes such as armed robbery and attempted murder and some actually committed murder. The findings showed that even though female criminality was on the increase, a comparison of the gender distribution of prisoners showed that they were very much underrepresented in the criminal population of the state.

Table of Content

Title page – – – – – – – – – – i

Declaration – – – – – – – – – ii

Certification – – – – – – – – – iii

Dedication – – – – – – – – – – iv

Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – v

Abstract – – – – – – – – – – vii

Table of Contents – – – – – – – – viii

List of Tables – – – – – – – – – x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 1

1.1 Statement of the problem – – – – – – 2

1.2 Growth of female criminality – – – – – 3

1.3 Objectives of the study – – – – – – – 5

1.4 significance of the study – – — – – – 5

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 General overview – – – – – – – 7

2.1 Perception of crime – – – – – – – 7

2.2 Gender and criminality – – — – – – 10

2.3 Growth in female crime – – – – – – 11

2.4 Theoretical framework- – – — – – – 13

2.5 Appraisal of literature reviewed – – – – – 24

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research location – – – – – – – 27

3.2 Method of data collection – – – – – – 27

3.4 The population and the sample – – – – – 27

3.5 Problems encountered – – – – – – 28

3.6 Limitations of the study – – – – – – 29

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION

4.0 Introduction- – – – – – – – – 30

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMEDATION

5.1 Summary – – – – – – – – – 44

5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – – 47

5.3 Recommendations – – – – – – – 48

Bibliography – – – – – – – – 50

Questionnaire – – – – – – – – – 52

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1: shows respondents’ demographic data – – – 31

Table 4.2: showing occupational background of respondents – 33

Table 4.3: showing individuals responsible for the

inmate’s upbringing. – – – – – – – 35

Table 4.4: showing whether the inmates depended on their

family for sustenance. – – – – – – – 35

Table 4.5: showing whether inmates were employed in a

formal sector – – – – – – – – 36

Table 4.6: inmate income per month – – – – – 37

Table 4.7: showing types of offences committed by the inmates – 38

Table 4.8: showing factors that influenced the inmates – – 39

Table 4.9: year of imprisonment – – – – – – – 40

Table 4.10: showing the criminal status of the prison inmates – 41

Table 4.11: showing whether the inmates regretted their actions 42