Women Dacoits of India: Offender Victim Interface

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Sessions

Abstract/Description

The criminal justice system has largely engaged with women as victims of crime. The ‘women who offend’ being embedded in romantic, familial, and social contexts, ‘fly under the radar.’ Some receive disproportionate spotlight- being portrayed either as gender-benders and challengers of the system or being damned for being ‘doubly deviant’ -breaking not just the law but also gender norms. There remains a crying need to professionally understand the female criminal. The present study takes up the case of women dacoits (armed bandits) in Chambal in the heart of India. Many of these women took up arms and wholeheartedly participated in murders, kidnappings, robberies and extortions. The circumstances of their joining crime and journeys provide deep insight into the patriarchal system of exploitation, discrimination and victimization. Did crime result in greater agency and empowerment for them? Were they ruthless? Were they vulnerable? Can a victim-offender overlap be delineated? Should they not be responsible squarely for each of the crimes they committed? How will these insights help the criminal justice system design prevention, rescue nets, and exit strategies for these women while also ensuring justice for victims?

Sub Unit

• Area XIV. Roundtables

Author

• Deepika Suri, Indian Police

Chair

• Farrukh B. Hakeem, Shaw University

Discussants

• Arvind Verma, Indiana University Bloomington

• Manish Madan, Stockton University

• Sami Ansari, Salem State University