ABSTRACT
Despite increases in the numbers of incarcerated women over the past 20 years, state and federal inmates remain predominately male (93 percent; Carson & Golinelli, 2013). Among male inmates, psychopaths are responsible for a disproportionate number of serious behavioral problems (Hare & McPherson, 1984), are difficult to manage within correctional and forensic hospital settings (Gacono, Meloy, Sheppard, Speth, & Roske, 1995; Gacono, Meloy, Speth, & Roske, 1997; Ogloff, Wong, & Greenwood, 1990; Rice, 1997; Rice, Harris, & Cormier, 1992), and commit a greater number of offenses than non-psychopathic offenders (Hare, 2003; see Chapter 8, this volume). Although male psychopaths have been studied extensively over the past 60 years, less is known about female psychopathy (Cunliffe & Gacono, 2008; Gacono, 2000; Verona & Vitale, 2006). As the number of incarcerated females continues to grow, it will become increasingly important to identify psychopathic female offenders and to recognize their differences from males.
