Crime is often seen as an enterprise of mostly male offenders. In what ways does male dominance in criminal justice systems influence the experience of men and boys as offenders and victims?

As offenders

• Harsher Sentencing & “Tough on Crime” Culture
  Male offenders, especially young men and men of color, are often stereotyped as inherently dangerous or aggressive. This leads to harsher sentencing compared to women for similar crimes, less consideration of mitigating circumstances like trauma or socioeconomic background and fewer opportunities for diversion or rehabilitation.

• Lack of Trauma-Informed Approaches
  Many male offenders have histories of abuse, neglect, or trauma, but systems often fail to explore these factors due to gendered beliefs that men should be “tough” and unemotional. This leads to under-recognition of PTSD, depression, or substance use as coping mechanisms and lower access to mental health care and emotional support

• Overrepresentation and Racial Bias
  Systems built and run primarily by men may reflect and reinforce existing biases—especially against young Black, Indigenous, and Latino men—contributing to over-policing, profiling, and mass incarceration.

As Victims

Invisibility of Male Victims
When men are victims—especially of sexual violence, domestic abuse, or trafficking—they’re often disbelieved, ridiculed, or ignored.

Lack of Empathy or Support Structures
Systems dominated by hyper-masculine cultures may lack the emotional intelligence or institutional structures needed to support male victims in a compassionate, nonjudgmental way.

Underreporting Due to Gender Norms
Toxic masculinity pressures men and boys to suppress emotions and deny vulnerability.

• Patriarchal Assumptions: These systems often focus more on punishing than healing, reflecting societal values where strength, control, and dominance are idealized—especially in men.

• Lack of Gender-Inclusive Policy: There’s often little room for discussing how masculinity is shaped by trauma, poverty, or systemic injustice.

Male dominance in criminal justice doesn’t always benefit men—it often imposes rigid expectations that harm both men and boys by ignoring vulnerability, over-policing aggression, and failing to provide spaces for healing and accountability.