Impulse Control: Adequate Gratification Of Female Offenders

Impulse control is an important tool that not every person possesses. Impulse control is exhibited when a person can successfully discipline themselves against behaviors that would provide only immediate gratification. Those who can conquer these tempting desires understand that immediate gratification is not comparable to delayed gratification which typically presents a larger reward if the person waits a longer period of time to obtain it. Impulse control can also greatly aid in problem solving techniques, consider an action along with its benefits and consequences before pursing, and control irresponsible behaviors. Although this potential construct can be practiced throughout a person’s life, it is thought to be first developed when the

According to the statistics found within the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia website (2017), since 2010 there has been an approximate 3.4% increase of female offenders each year entering the prison systems. This has made the female offenders the most rapid growing correctional population to date (CSOSA, 2017). Female prisoners who were sentenced for a year or more in prison increased by 3% between the years 2012-2013, while in comparison with male prisoners who only increased 0.2% between those same years (CSOSA,

A study produced by Terranova & Vandiver (2014) targeted the differences between female and male offenders and how their crimes differed from one another. This study attempted to view the most common crime for each of the two sexes along with if these offenders were more likely to offend alone or with another person or group. Crimes that have a female offender present were more likely to not only have at least one female victim, but was also found more likely to have multiple victims overall (Terranova & Vandiver, 2014). Researchers Terranova & Vandiver (2014) also made future victim predictions based on this study. It was hypothesized that as the gap between male and female offenders diminishes, consequently the number of female victims of violent crime will ultimately continue to rise (Terranova & Vandiver, 2014). Although female offenders were less likely to commit sexually violent crimes, they did more frequently homicide and arson if a history of victimization pertaining to the offender was present (De Vogel, Stam, Bouman, Ter Horst, & Lancel,