Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

LGBT People as Offenders within the Criminal Justice System

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans People (LGBT) and the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

This chapter explores some of the limited research and literature covering the circumstances in which LGBT people might become offenders. It examines US research which indicates that there is a ‘school-to-prison’ pipeline for young LGBT people and the issues identified as significant, such as homelessness, mental health, substance misuse and their links to offending. It explores research on the experiences of LGBT people in the CJS. In terms of sentencing, for example, there is evidence from the USA that sexual orientation might affect criminal justice outcomes. There appears to be an over-representation of lesbians on death row and lesbians and gay men are characterised by the media and the prosecution in often negative ways. Drawing on research on women and the CJS in the UK it is suggested that stereotypical views about women affect outcomes, especially for lesbians or those considered lesbian.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
€34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
EUR 29.95
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
EUR 106.99
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
EUR 139.09
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

') var buybox = document.querySelector("[data-id=id_"+ timestamp +"]").parentNode var buyingOptions = buybox.querySelectorAll(".buying-option") ;[].slice.call(buyingOptions).forEach(initCollapsibles) var buyboxMaxSingleColumnWidth = 480 function initCollapsibles(subscription, index) { var toggle = subscription.querySelector(".buying-option-price") subscription.classList.remove("expanded") var form = subscription.querySelector(".buying-option-form") var priceInfo = subscription.querySelector(".price-info") var buyingOption = toggle.parentElement if (toggle && form && priceInfo) { toggle.setAttribute("role", "button") toggle.setAttribute("tabindex", "0") toggle.addEventListener("click", function (event) { var expandedBuyingOptions = buybox.querySelectorAll(".buying-option.expanded") var buyboxWidth = buybox.offsetWidth ;[].slice.call(expandedBuyingOptions).forEach(function(option) { if (buyboxWidth <= buyboxMaxSingleColumnWidth && option != buyingOption) { hideBuyingOption(option) } }) var expanded = toggle.getAttribute("aria-expanded") === "true" || false toggle.setAttribute("aria-expanded", !expanded) form.hidden = expanded if (!expanded) { buyingOption.classList.add("expanded") } else { buyingOption.classList.remove("expanded") } priceInfo.hidden = expanded }, false) } } function hideBuyingOption(buyingOption) { var toggle = buyingOption.querySelector(".buying-option-price") var form = buyingOption.querySelector(".buying-option-form") var priceInfo = buyingOption.querySelector(".price-info") toggle.setAttribute("aria-expanded", false) form.hidden = true buyingOption.classList.remove("expanded") priceInfo.hidden = true } function initKeyControls() { document.addEventListener("keydown", function (event) { if (document.activeElement.classList.contains("buying-option-price") && (event.code === "Space" || event.code === "Enter")) { if (document.activeElement) { event.preventDefault() document.activeElement.click() } } }, false) } function initialStateOpen() { var buyboxWidth = buybox.offsetWidth ;[].slice.call(buybox.querySelectorAll(".buying-option")).forEach(function (option, index) { var toggle = option.querySelector(".buying-option-price") var form = option.querySelector(".buying-option-form") var priceInfo = option.querySelector(".price-info") if (buyboxWidth > buyboxMaxSingleColumnWidth) { toggle.click() } else { if (index === 0) { toggle.click() } else { toggle.setAttribute("aria-expanded", "false") form.hidden = "hidden" priceInfo.hidden = "hidden" } } }) } initialStateOpen() if (window.buyboxInitialised) return window.buyboxInitialised = true initKeyControls() })()

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    See Chap. 2 on definitions and acronyms; Q (queer) is used here in an American context.

  2. 2.

    This is an American term; in the UK she is likely to be referred to as BME (black minority ethnic).

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2008). Just the facts about sexual orientation and youth: A primer for principles, educators and school personnel (p. 5). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.html

  • Anderson, D. (1996). Caged women. Girlfriends, 24–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benoit, C., Jannson, M., Millar, A., & Phillips, R. (2005). Community-academic research on hard-to-reach populations: Benefits and challenges. Qualitative Health Research, 15, 263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berzon, B. (1979). Developing a positive gay identity. In B. Berzon, & R. Leighton (Eds.), Positively gay. Millbrae, CA: 3Celestial Arts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brownworth, V. (1992, June). Dykes on death row. The Advocate, 62–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, M. (1994). Homosexuality as deviance; The case of the gay police officers. British Journal of Criminology, 34, 192–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlen, P. (1983). Women’s imprisonment. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesney-Lind, M. (2006). Patriarchy, crime and justice: Feminist criminology in an era of backlash. Feminist Criminology, 1, 6–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chesney-Lind, M., & Eliason, M. (2006). From invisible to incorrigible: The demonisation of marginalized women and girls. Crime, Media, Culture, 2, 29–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, S. M. (1984). Women on trial: A study of the female suspect, defendant and offender in the criminal law and criminal justice system. Manchester: Manchester University Press. 216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farr, K. (2000). Defeminising and dehumanising female murderers: Depictions of lesbians on death row. Women and Criminal Justice, 11, 49–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, D. (1989). The origins of crime: The Cambridge study of delinquent development. London: HO Research and Planning Unit, HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, D. (1996). Understanding and preventing youth crime, Social policy research findings no. 93. London: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish, J. (2012). Social work and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. Making a difference. Bristol: The Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein, D. (2000). Sexual preference, crime and punishment. Women and Criminal Justice, 11, 67–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, D. G., Milroy, M. E., Reynolds, G. L., Klann, J. A., & Wood, M. M. (2004). Arrest history among men and sexual orientation. Crime and Delinquency, 50, 32–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frazier, C. E., Bock, E. W., & Henretta, J. C. (1980). Pretrial release and bail decisions; the effects of legal, community and personal variables. Criminology, 18, 162–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garnette, I., Reyes, C., & Wilber, S. (2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and the juvenile justice system. In F. T. Sherman, & F. H. Jacobs (Eds.), Juvenile justice: Advancing research, policy and practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldson, B., & Muncie, J. (2006). Youth crime and justice. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein. (2001, March 20). Queer on death row: In murder cases being gay can seal a defendant’s fate. Village Voice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groombridge, N. (1999). Perverse criminologies: The closet of Doctor Lombroso. Social and Legal Studies, 8, 531–548.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, L. (1994). Fatal women: Lesbian sexuality and the mark of aggression. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedderman, C., & Gelsthorpe, L. (1997). Why are more women being sentenced to custody? In G. E. Mcivor (Ed.), Women who offend. London: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heidensohn, F. (2006). Gender and justice: New concepts and approaches. Cullompton: Willan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Himmelstein, K., & Bruckner, H. (2011). Criminal justice and school sanctions against nonheterosexual youth: A national longitudinal study. Pediatrics, 27, 49–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, J., & Moodie-Mills, A. (2012). The unfair criminalization of gay and transgender youth. Washington, DC: Center for American Progress.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Alcohol Studies (2013). Crime and social impacts of alcohol factsheet. London: Institute of Alcohol Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irvine, A. (2010). We’ve had three of them: Addressing the invisibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and gender nonconforming youths in the juvenile justice system. Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, 19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Judicial Council of California. 2001. Sexual orientation fairness in the Californian courts: Final report of the sexual orientation fairness subcommittee of the judicial council. Access and Fairness Advisory Committee. http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/sexualorient_report.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Juster, R. P., Smith, N. G., Oullet, E., Sindi, S., & Lupien, S. (2013). Sexual orientation and disclosure in relation to psychiatric symptons, diurnal cortisol and allostatic load. Psychosomatic Medicine, 75, 103–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, H. (1992). Eve was framed: Women and British justice. London: Chatto and Windus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keogh, P., Reid, D., Bourne, A., Weatherburn, P., Hickson, F., Jessup, K., et al. (2009). Wasted opportunities; problematic alcohol and drug use among gay men and bisexual men. London: Sigma Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, M., Mckeown, E., & Warner, J. (2003). Mental health and quality of life of gay men and lesbians in England and Wales. Controlled, cross-sectional study. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 183, 552–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kowszun, G., & Malley, M. (1996). Alcohol and substance misuse. In D. Davies, & C. Neal (Eds.), Pink therapy: A guide for counselors and therapists working with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients. Buckingham: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurtz, S. (2008). Arrest histories of high-risk gay and bisexual men in Miami: Unexpected additional evidence for Syndemic Theory. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 40(4), 513–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Majd, K., Marksamer, J., & Reyes, C. (2009). Hidden injustice: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in juvenile courts. Washington, DC: Equity Project. http://www.hivlawandpolicy.org/sites/www.hivlawandpolicy.org/files/hidden_injustice.pdf

  • Mcneill, F., Raynor, P., & Trotter, C. (2010). Offender supervision. New directions in theory, research and practice. Cullompton: Willan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Millbank, J. (2005). It’s about this: Lesbians, prison, desire. In M. Freeman (Ed.), Law and popular culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, S., Forest, K., & Junk, N. (2003). Diversity in blue; lesbian and gay police officers in a masculine occupation. Men and Masculinities, 5, 355–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchum, P., & Moodie-Mills, A. (2014). Beyond bullying: How hostile school climate perpetuates the school-to-prison pipeline for LGBT youth. Washington, DC: Center for American Progress.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panfill, V. R. (2014). I will fight you like i’m straight”: Gay and crime-involved men’s participation in violence. In D. Peterson, & V. R. Panfil (Eds.), Handbook of LGBT communities, crime and justice. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, A. E. (2005). British social attitudes. The 22nd report. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parks, C. A. (1999). Lesbian social drinking: The role of alcohol in growing up and living as a lesbian. Contemporary Drug Problems, 26, 75–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powers, B. (1996). The impact of gay, lesbian and bisexual workplace issues on productivity. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 4, 79–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robson, R. (1998). Sappho goes to law school. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russel, S. (2002, October 3). Written testimony submitted to the Senate select committee on school safety hearing on ‘sexual orientation’, gender identity, discrimination and school safety, Plummer Park, West Holywood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scourfield, J., Roen, K., & McDermott, L. (2008). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people’s experiences of distress: Resilience, ambivalence and self-destructive behaviour. Health & Social Care in the Community, 16(3), 329–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shortnacy, M. B. (2004). Sexual minorities, criminal justice, and the death penalty. Fordham Urban Law Journal, 32(2), 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smart, C. (1976). Women, crime and criminology: A feminist critique. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, C.E. (1954). The homosexual federal offender: A study of 100 cases. Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police in Handbook of LGBT Communities, Crime and Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. (2002). Homophobia in the halls of justice: Sexual or bias and its implications within the legal system. American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy and the Law, 11, 101–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snapp, S. D., Hoenig, J. M., Fields, A., & Russell, S. T. (2015). Messy, butch and queer: LGBTQ youth and the school-to-prison pipeline. Journal of Adolescent Research, 30, 57–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stonewall. (2012). The School Report. Accessed 15th December 2013 from http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at home/information bank 7.

  • Streib, V. (1993). Death penalty for lesbians. National Journal of Sexual Orientation Law, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Lesbian and Gay Foundation and the University of Central Lancashire. (2015). Part of the picture – LGB people’s drug and alcohol use in England. LGBT Foundation. http://lgbt.foundation/policy-research/part-of-the-picture/

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentine, G., & Mcdonald, I. (2004). Understanding prejudice. Attitudes towards minorities. London: Stonewall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whyte, B. (2009). Youth justice in practice; making a difference. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, J. B. (2013). The birth of modern criminology and gendered constructions of homosexual criminal identity. Journal of Homosexuality, 62, 131–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woods, J. B. (2014). Queering criminology: Overview of the state of the field. In D. Peterson, & V. R. Panfil (Eds.), Handbook of LGBT communities, crime and justice. London: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worrall, A. (1990). Offending women: Female lawbreakers and the criminal justice system. London: Taylor and Francis.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Worrall, A. (2004). Twisted sisters; ladettes and the new penology. The social construction of violent girls. In C. Adler, & A. Worrall (Eds.), Girls’ violence; myths and realities. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Community and Criminal Justice, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

    Charlotte Knight & Kath Wilson

Authors
  1. Charlotte Knight
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kath Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2016 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Knight, C., Wilson, K. (2016). LGBT People as Offenders within the Criminal Justice System. In: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans People (LGBT) and the Criminal Justice System. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-49698-0_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-49698-0_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-49697-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-49698-0

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics