Approaching a comparative typology of assaultive female offenders

This two-part study explores the potential for assaultive behavior in females. The first part compares assaultive and nonassaultive female offenders for the presence of specific historical variables, and finds several significant differences. In the second part, the total female offender sample is compared with a male offender sample for presence of the same variables. The nearly equal incidence of several variables in both samples, such as persistent enuresis and firesetting, suggests a need for reassessment of some traditional theoretical formulations.