Female Probationers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan

Saira Mairaj, Rubina Munir, Sajjad Hussain, Muhammad Ashfaq Khan

Abstract
Female criminality is not a new phenomenon. Today, women are
involved in all types of crimes ranging from less serious to most serious;
however their contribution in crime is low. The study is based on the
analysis of primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected
from the regional offices of Reclamation and Probation Department of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while extensive literature review was carried out
with the help of books and online sources. The selection of respondents
was made on the basis of census method and a total of 49 respondents
were interviewed. The paper attempts to identify the various causative
factors, nature and extents of female criminality in KPK. In addition the
paper also aims to explore, the role of probation service in the
reintegration of female criminals in to their communities. The study
concludes that involvement in drug trafficking was one of the main offence
in which most female probationers were arrested by the police. The low
socio-economic status and no proper earning opportunities compelled
many women to indulge in crime. The female offender faced various
problems in their reintegration back into the society like the negative
attitude of their family members and of their neighborhood and community.
The study recommends that appointment of more female probation officers,
providing proper office space, other facilities and offering rehabilitation
programs such as skills training can ensure the successful reintegration of
female offenders into their community.

Keywords: Probation, Rehabilitation, Criminality