Work

Female reoffending trajectories in England from 2000 to 2021: A longitudinal administrative data study.

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: As women are a minority group in the criminal justice system, they have often been neglected in criminological research. Research exploring offending trajectories has largely focused on male and mixed-gender samples, and studies using female-only cohorts have been constrained by small sample sizes, short follow-ups, and limited evidence from England. This study therefore aimed to use a nationally representative sample to identify trajectories of female offending from childhood into adulthood. HYPOTHESES: We expected that life-course-persistent, adolescent-limited, and adult-onset groups would be identified. METHOD: = 196,089). The study explored their offending trajectories from the age of criminal responsibility (10 years) up to age 31 years using a latent class analysis approach. Binary indicator variables used were age of first offense (as "child: 10-13 years," "adolescent: 14-17 years," "young adult: 18-20 years," and "adult: ≥21 years"), age of last offense (as "juvenile: 10-17 years," "young adult: 18-20 years," and "adult: ≥21 years"), and being a persistent offender as "juvenile," "young adult," or "adult" (committing more than the median number of offenses). Analyses controlled for having ever been incarcerated. RESULTS: A four-class model was identified with the following classes: "life course persistent" (11%), "adolescent limited" (54%), "young adult limited" (16%), and "adult onset" (19%). These classes resemble those identified using male and mixed-gender samples. CONCLUSIONS: As rates of female imprisonment increase, it is ever more important that we attempt to understand women's engagement with the criminal justice system. By identifying the key developmental patterns of female offending in England, this study provides an empirical basis for early identification and tailored support for those women most at risk of persistent offending. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Source: Law and Human Behavior

DOI: 10.1037/lhb0000690

Authors: Christabel Coles, Alice Wickersham, George Vamvakas, Darrick Jolliffe, Nigel Blackwood, Hannah Dickson

Institutions: King's College London, University College London

Language: English

Topic: Crime Patterns and Interventions

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, Economic and Social Research Council