Carolyn Dennis

Influence of Economic Marginalization on Adult Female Recidivism: Economic Marginalization and Adult Female Recidivism Carolyn Dennis

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between the recidivism of adult female offenders and economic marginalization. Initially, the study proposed to explore why some female offenders continue to commit crime; for example, the literature supports the concept that women reoffend to support themselves and their children. The study seeks to understand if female offenders continue to commit crime because they suffer from economic marginalization. Data collection included qualitative in-depth personal interviews of 20 female offenders at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh, North Carolina. Applying a qualitative grounded theory methodology, a theory emerged explaining the impact of economic marginalization upon adult female recidivism. Traditionally, research of recidivists primarily focuses on male offenders and male rehabilitation programs; therefore, this study will make a needed contribution to the gap in the literature related to female recidivists.