NCJ Number
85897
Date Published
1981
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Although the hiring practices and job functions of women in corrections appear to give them equal status with men in most cases, the lack of advancement training geared to the special needs of women employees and sexist attitudes among male employees inhibit women's career advancement.
Abstract
Even with the adoption of an affirmative action policy statement in 1976 by the American Correctional Association, the number of women employed in all types of positions in correctional institutions was about 26,771 in 1979, which is very low considering the total offender population of about 274,100 during the same period and 51 percent representation of women in the general population. The central issue surrounding the hiring and use of female correctional officers is privacy rights demanded by male inmates, which has led most State correctional departments to restrict women from conducting strip searches of male inmates and serving in shower and toilet areas. Should the Nation's courts rule that females may work in any and all correctional institutions and in any and all positions within those institutions without jeopardizing security or violating inmates' right to privacy, then the administrative burden to accommodate equal employment opportunity for women in corrections will be eased. While female corrections employees tend to indicate they are not discriminated against by rules, procedures, or other formal hiring or promotion specifications, they complain of a sexist attitude among male employees and supervisors that views women as an incapable minority, such that women must prove themselves by super achievements. Another concern expressed by women correctional employees is the lack of training that will provide them with the administrative and management skills needed to counteract the passive and dependent roles taught by their upbringing. Thirty-seven notes are listed.