NCJ Number
74453
Date Published
1980
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Patterns of job discrimination against women in correctional employment and their causes are discussed.
Abstract
Historically, women have been underused and discriminated against in correctional employment in the areas of recruitment and hiring, in promotion to responsible decisionmaking positions and better-paying jobs, and in assignment to men's institutions and facilities. Women are viewed by male administrators and correctional officers as being too weak physically and emotionally to deal with male inmates. However, where women have been given appropriate training and placed in regular custodial assignments, they have not only functioned as well as male officers, but they have added special skills and sensitivities that have markedly improved the general atmosphere of the work setting. The days of experimentation, trial, and tokenism should be ended and total integration of females in the correctional work force implemented. Through appropriate training and enforcement of behavioral standards, men must learn to relate to women in the work place in nonsexual ways. Employee grievance procidures should also be established to resolve problems of sexual harassment. Because promotion to management positions develops out of operations experience and line-manager training, grant programs should permit recipients to employ women in strategic positions through scholarships, stipends, or a percentage of salary for 1 or 2 years. No references are provided.