Student Researches How Sexual Violence Can Influence Criminal Pathways in Women

Abbi Edgington ‘27

The dream of law school and deep-rooted passion for upholding justice was at the front of her mind as Abbi Edgington ’27, a Criminal Justice and English major, spent her summer attempting to understand the role sexual violence plays on incarcerated women’s criminal pathways. Through extensive research, Edgington sought to answer a longstanding question: Are women who experience sexual violence are more likely to commit violent crime than women who have not? Edgington further studied if the time in which a woman experiences sexual violence is an important determinant in their later criminal behavior.

Since most theories and research on criminal behavior is androcentric, women’s pathways to incarceration are often overlooked. From limited existing studies, Edgington discovered that experiencing sexual violence is often observed as a catalyst for substance abuse and PTSD, a combination that can create a much bigger possibility for criminal activity. With a lack of studies in this area, Edgington’s research on the subject could make way for more understanding into the female criminal mind.

“I’d like to work as either as a prosecutor or defense attorney for some of my career prior to working for the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI),” said Edgington on her career goals. “The EJI provides dedicated legal representation to death row inmates who were wrongfully convicted on the basis of racial discrimination. My goal is to assist inmates and help to overturn wrongful convictions.”