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The relationship between gender and crime is one of the most striking patterns in criminology. In every society for which data exists, men commit significantly more crime than women, particularly violent and serious crime. According to Ministry of Justice statistics, approximately 85% of those convicted of indictable offences in England and Wales are male. This consistent pattern — the gender gap in offending — demands sociological explanation.
Key Definition: The gender gap in crime refers to the well-documented finding that males are significantly more likely than females to commit criminal offences, especially violent and serious crimes.
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Proportion of prison population that is male | Approximately 95% in England and Wales |
| Most common offence for female offenders | Theft and handling stolen goods |
| Male vs. female violent crime | Men are responsible for approximately 88% of violent offences |
| Self-report studies | Confirm that the gender gap is real, though smaller than official statistics suggest |
| Trends | Female offending has increased slightly in recent decades, but the gender gap remains very large |
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