Criminological characteristics of female criminals

Introduction. The present state of female crime is characterized by the changes in the structural features of women who commit crimes. Age and educational level have undergone the most significant changes in the social demographic features of female criminals. The aim of the research is to reveal the main tendencies in the social portrait of female criminals and the causes of current changes in the personal structure of female criminals. Materials and Methods. The main method employed in this work is the analysis of statistical data related to the state and social portrait of crime in Russia from 2010 to 2018 published by State clearing house of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation and the Judicial Department of the Russian Federation, and court case files. Results and Discussion. The main age group of female criminals consists of women aged 30 to 49, gradual “aging” of an average criminal being evident. The educational level of female criminals is higher than that of male criminals, the educational level of criminals in general and women in particular is increasing. The age group from 30 to 49 have repeated commission of general crimes by women with constant unlawful inclination and first commission of white-collar crimes. Conclusions. Female general crime includes women who continue leading amoral and illegal life style which was formed in juvenile years and late youth or women who radically changed their life style in late youth or early maturity due to unfavourable external conditions. Psychological factors of increased criminal activity of white-collar crime committed by women of 30 to 49 years of age originate from the basic features of age and gender psychology.