FEMALE CRIMINALS WORSE THAN MALES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1783, 30 August 1888, Page 4

FEMALE CRIMINALS WORSE THAN MALES.

A remarkable statistical table relating to incurable criminals was published on June 16th by the Eev. «). W. Horsley, who is widely known from his long connection as chaplain of Olerkeuwell Gaol. The figures go back over the last ten years, and have been compiled from the judical statistics of England and Wales. Taking the number of males and females who were found on their admission to prison to have suffered ten previous convictions, and who therefore, may be fairly classed as incurable or habitual criminals, the proportion of females is about double the number of males. The difference is still more striking between the number of re-committed prisoners as distinct from first offenders. Here the proportion of women to men is about three to one, showing that women at their best are three times as bad as men, whilst as incurable offenders men at worst are twice as good as women at their best. These results go a long way to bear out the old theory that in all they do, women are more thorough than men, blit once they go to the bad they are worse, and altogether more incorrigible. It is satisfactory to find that in spite of the great increase of population there ' are 6,000 fewer prisoners in the gaols than there were twelve years ago; but the incurable class is always steadily on the increase. Mr Horsley’s proposed remedies are a progressive punishment for drunken and disorderly conduct, and the increase of temperance work for women and by women. Both suggestions are certainly worth a trial.