Institute director Adam Graycar described this as alarming because the emphasis in Australia should be on keeping people out of prison through alternative programs like community service. The increase over the past decade is attributed to women suffering greater economic deprivation than men. The increasing affluence among certain sections of society also means there are more valuables to be stolen by those who need money - and women are increasingly showing up as the thieves. The number of Aboriginal women prisoners jumped 262 per cent over the same period - significantly more than the rate for the general female population. Christine Alder, associate professor of criminology at Melbourne University, says women generally do not commit crimes against people but have an economic focus due to the financial pressures they face.
Experts are also alarmed by a failure to properly rehabilitate women by means other than prison.
Dr Graycar's research also found that women are more likely to be in prison for drug and property offences than men, but far less likely to be there for violent offences. In a dynamic employment environment, women are simply more likely to miss out. The Age Company Ltd 2000. Any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.