Offenders or/and Victims: Homeless Women in Brisbane

• In Event: Cross-National Perspectives on Human Trafficking, Forced Marriage, and Women’s Prison Experiences

Abstract

The research clearly shows that involvement with the criminal justice system is positively associated with homelessness (Barret et al., 2009). Evidence demonstrates that homeless people are primarily depicted as criminals, as opposed to victims of crime, even though they are more likely to fall victim to crime than to commit it (Moore et al., 1995; Fooks & Pantazis, 1999). In fact, the criminal homeless are described as beggars, aggressive beggars or squatters. These behaviours are all linked back to the historical notions of ‘vagrants’, which deemed to be illegal. This raises questions in regards to the way the police respond to homeless population. According to the women’s accounts in this ethnographic research, their involvement in criminal activity was not extensive. Yet, most of them were in contact with the police at some point during their homelessness – as victims, or as women who live in public space. In addition to being criminalised for living in public, they are more likely to experience risks, which are unique to their own identity as women (Radley, Hodgetts & Cullen, 2006). Homeless women face dangers such as physical or sexual violence (Rosenthal & Mallett, 2003; Wenzel, Koegel & Gelberg, 2000).

Author

• Helena Menih, University of New England