Women have always made up the minority of arrests, with arrest rates ranging from 16% in 1980 to 27% in 2014. Between the 1930s and 1960s, the arrest rates were probably much lower, but I had difficulty finding them so I’m just pulling that out of my ass. Anyway, women’s arrest rates aren’t really the point here. The point is I love looking at old mugshots. Even when women were committing crime back in the day, they did it in style. Beautiful, albeit disheveled, hairdos, smart dresses, and classy coats all remind me of my grandma, except as far as I know, she never had her mugshot taken. I’m not sure what these women’s stories were, but I hope they were able to turn things around after these photos were taken.
Below you’ll find a gallery of mugshots ranging from the 1930s to 1960s, all from the collection of Mark Michaelson.
Images via Vintag.es
