Pathways and lived experiences of incarcerated female fraud offenders at the Kgoši Mampuru II Female Correctional Centre (South Africa)

Abstract

An in-depth qualitative case study analysis was pursued to provide a detailed depiction of the life histories/pathways and lived experiences of a small sample of incarcerated female fraud offenders at the Kgoši Mampuru II Female Correctional Centre (Gauteng, South Africa). Narrative accounts allowed for the identification of specific causes, contributory factors and motives that underwrote each female participant’s decision to commit fraud. The findings showcase how a spectrum of comparable live events (i.e. emotional abuse) and experiences (i.e. need for financial independence) amongst the females contributed to an enhanced reasoning to engage in criminal behaviour. Apart from greediness as a main motive, an array of overlapping causes and contributory factors were identified amongst all the participants that included inter alia lack /limited self-control, low self-esteem, opportunity, poor decisionmaking skills, stress, pro-criminal thinking patterns/ideas and limited insight and understanding of own criminal behaviour. This paper, therefore, aims to improve current knowledge on the life pathways and lived experiences of these female fraudsters and to guide rehabilitation efforts for this unique offender population.