NCJ Number
195749
Date Published
1999
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes findings concerning numbers of women in correctional law enforcement and as sworn officers in State, county and municipal agencies, examining the major barriers that prevent an increase in their numbers, and reporting on the negative effects upon law enforcement as a whole due to the dearth of women in police departments.
Abstract
This 1999 research summary reports that women comprise only 14.3 percent of all law enforcement positions nationwide, with State agencies falling behind county and municipal agencies in hiring and promoting of women. Women of color hold 6.8 percent of these positions. A gain of 5.3 percent in their numbers has occurred over the 9-year period from 1990 to 1999. It was predicted that it will take several generations for women to reach equal representation in the ranks of law enforcement. The greatest barriers to increasing the number of women in policing were found to be the negative behavior and attitudes of their male colleagues; entry exams requiring excessive upper-body strength; widespread discrimination, including harassment and intimidation; and being maliciously thwarted in their attempts at advancement. Other barriers included heavy recruitment at predominantly male venues, such as military bases, security agencies, and male-oriented sporting events. Outdated paramilitary policing practices rewarding tough, aggressive, even violent behavior was found to repel women's participation in such law enforcement practices, and exacerbates potential lawsuits due to excessive force by male law enforcement personnel. It was found that a community-oriented model of policing, rooted in strong interpersonal and communications skills emphasizing conflict resolution over force, generally favored by women in law enforcement, has been highly effective in improving the public relations image of law enforcement agencies and positively impacts police-community relations. The dearth of women in law enforcement impacts the support given to victims of domestic violence, and since it was found that up to 40 percent of male officers were abusers themselves, women would receive as much as 40 percent less effective law enforcement response from male officers. It was found that female officers were demonstrably more effective than their male counterparts in their responses to crimes against women. Due to the hostility and harassment experienced by women in law enforcement agencies (caused by the under-representation of women in the agencies), successful lawsuits brought by these women have resulted in enormous cost to law enforcement agencies. Additional detailed survey findings, such as gender, color, rank, civilian, and military personnel figures are depicted in graph form, with an appendix identifying the individual agencies included in this research.