NCJ Number
68686
Date Published
1978
Length
48 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF THE FEMALE POLICE OFFICER IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS OF THE U.S. AND CANADA IS EXAMINED BY A BRITISH POLICEWOMAN, BASED ON VISITS TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
Abstract
SUBJECT AREAS INCLUDE THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLICEWOMEN, LEGAL ISSUES, RECRUITING AND INITIAL TRAINING, INSERVICE TRAINING, UNIFORMS, USE OF WOMEN ON PATROL AND IN SPECIALIZED DEPARTMENTS, ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN IN POLICING, AND CASE STUDIES AND EVALUATIONS. IN THE U.S., WOMEN MAKE UP 2 PERCENT OF SWORN POLICE PERSONNEL AND 51 PERCENT OF THE GENERAL POPULATIONS. THROUGH A SLOW AND PAINFUL STRUGGLE, WOMEN ARE INCREASINGLY BEING ACCEPTED INTO POLICING IN THE U.S. AND CANADA. THE CONSENSUS OF OPINION IS THAT WOMEN CAN PERFORM THE DUTIES OF PATROL OFFICER. FURTHER, FEARS ABOUT WOMEN'S LACK OF PHYSICAL STRENGTH MAY BE ALLEVIATED BY A WOMAN'S ABILITY TO DEFUSE A VIOLENT SITUATION. LACK OF WOMEN IN EXECUTIVE ROLES AND LACK OF PREPARATORY TRAINING ARE TWO PROBLEM AREAS THAT ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION. MIXED PATROL TEAMS CAN ALSO HELP ALLEVIATE DIFFERENCES. IN CONTRAST WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM, AMERICAN POLICEWOMEN'S UNIFORMS ARE MORE PRACTICAL. MANY AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION AND THE BRAMSHILL LIBRARY AND COLLEGE COULD BE USED AS A RESOURCE. FINALLY, BRITISH POLICEWOMEN SHOULD FOLLOW THE NORTH AMERICAN EXAMPLE OF COURAGE AND DETERMINATION. IN THE EFFORT TO BE ACCEPTED BY MALE COLLEAGUES, POLICE WOMEN SHOULD NOT, HOWEVER, FORGET THEIR GREATEST VALUE AS POLICE OFFICERS: THEIR FEMININITY. MEN AND WOMEN POLICE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE SOCIETY. RESULTS OF FIVE AMERICAN SURVEYS ON POLICEWOMEN AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED.