Perpetrators as Victims: Understanding Violence by Female Street-Walking Prostitutes

Abstract

Little is known about the perpetration of violence by women who engage in street prostitution. While some researchers have examined the incidence of abuse among this population, the association between receipt of abuse and violence and later perpetration of violence is unclear. This study presents data from a recent evaluation of a case management program for street-walking prostitutes. A description of the program clients is provided, and factors that are associated with assaultive behavior against clients are examined. Bivariate analyses revealed statistically significant differences between assaultive and nonassaultive women with regard to history of psychiatric hospitalization, history of sexual abuse, history of physical abuse, history of emotional abuse, and whether they had been assaulted on the streets. However, logistic regression on variables related to abuse and violence indicates that controlling for other variables, the only statistically significant predictor of assaultive behavior was history of physical abuse. These results indicate the need for further research on this population as well as access to treatment for these women to address their own abuse and victimization.

Extent, Trends, and Perpetrators of Prostitution‐Related Homicide in the United States

“…Still, violence against clients in prostitution may be generally underrecognized. Fifty-six percent of prostitute women participating in a case management project reported ever assaulting a client not in self-defense (44). In addition, violence perpetration against clients was modestly negatively associated with violence victimization by clients in this sample, suggesting that prostitute victims and perpetrators tend to be somewhat distinct subsets of prostitute women.…”

Needs assessment for developing a multidisciplinary model for trafficking prevention and rehabilitation of survivors

“…Each entity uses different methods and data to assess this problem which creates data mismanagement, confusion and discrepancies (Hester and Westmarland, 2004). The definition of human trafficking also remain a debatable among scholarly articles (Bales, 1999(Bales, , 2005(Bales, , 2009Arnold, Stewart and McNeece, 2001;Farley, 2009;Elkind, 2010;Kara, 2009). At international level, the Trafficking in Persons report is an attempt to collect global country level data on this issue.…”

Criminality Among Female Drug Users Following an HIV Risk-Reduction Intervention

“…In addition, past life events, including a negative family or childhood history, also may contribute to the risk of criminality (Arata, 2000;Arnold, Stewart, & McNeece, 2001;Chesney-Lind, 1997;L'Abate & Baggett, 1997;Nyamathi, Wenzel, Lesser, Flaskerud, & Leake, 2001;Welle et al, 1998;West, Williams, & Siegel, 2000). Depression has been associated with criminality and research has shown that criminal acts arising from a manifestation of inner tension may occur in anxiety or manic-depressive states (Cormier, 1966;De Coster, 2003;Forrest, 1977;Harrer & Kofler-Westergren, 1986).…”