Risk factors for offending can be categorised as either static and unmodifiable, or dynamic and amenable to change. Static attributes are generally historical, whereas dynamic attributes reflect current functioning, eg. financial status, emotional problems, and substance use.

Research on dynamic risk factors for offending, also termed 'criminogenic needs', has focussed mainly on male offenders. To redress the balance, Professor Clive Hollin and Dr Emma Palmer investigated whether there might be women-specific criminogenic needs. In a review of previous research, they found that there were common needs shared by male and female offenders. These included: education, employment, financial problems, accommodation, companions, and how leisure and recreation time was spent.

Professor Hollin and Dr Palmer also established that there were areas of criminogenic need, such as family and interpersonal relationships, alcohol and drug misuse, and mental health, whose causal role or importance differed for men and women. Some events, such as physical and sexual abuse in childhood and adult relationships, were arguably specific risk factors for offending in women.

Female offenders also differed from male offenders in the degree to which risk factors, such as physical and sexual abuse, co-occurred with other criminogenic needs, such as substance use and mental health problems.

Publications

• Hollin CR and Palmer EJ. (2006). Criminogenic need and women offenders: A critique of the literature. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 11, 179-195.