Abstract

This study, investigated crime and criminology: the roles of women in Akwa Ibom State. The study adopted the survey research design. Ten Local government selected from 31 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State. Thirty women were selected from each Local Government Area making a total of 300 women. In all, a total number of 300 women participated in the study. Two research instruments were used for data collection: Questionnaire on Role of Women in Crimes (r=0.74) and Questionnaire on Common Crimes in Akwa Ibom (r=0.76). Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentage scores, mean and standard deviation. Findings of the study revealed that the weighted mean is 2.75, which was above the threshold of 2.50. This indicated that the selected women agreed all the stated above crimes were committed by criminals in Akwa Ibom State. Also, the result indicated a weighted mean of 2.38 which was below the threshold set at 2.50. This result implies that majority of the women played negative roles in crime and criminology in Akwa Ibom State. Based on the findings of this study, efforts to mitigate the rate of crimes of women should be achieved through moral reorientation of women. Women should play their roles as mothers to reduce peer influence in the cause of crime. Programmes should be organised for women on proper parenting so that they can instill discipline into the lives of the children. Parents should not allow their children to lack anything that is important to their lives. Women should be seen as an important part of the society and they should be accorded due respect. Government should raise the standard of living of poor families, reduce rate of unemployment and create more job opportunities.