NCJ Number
165399
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This analysis of women in policing in Australia concludes that the participation of women is still limited, and that the next steps to maximize the contribution of women must be system changes, information changes, and attitude changes.
Abstract
The role of female police has changed considerably wince the appointment of the first female police officers in New South Wales in 1915. About 13.5 percent of sworn police officers are female. The main issues in the employment of women in policing are the recruitment of women, the deployment of women as specialists or generalists, the representation of women in senior ranks and management, police culture and attitudes toward women police, and working conditions. Police academics and the police leaders of both genders and at all levels of the organization are those who can make changes possible. They have both the professional responsibility and the resources to address these issues. Attitude changes are slightly more difficult but still possible for people of good will. Leaders' and academics' public support of effective women police can significantly increase both the quantity and quality of women's contributions to policing. Figures and 22 references