NCJ Number
67882
Journal
Police Product News Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 52-56
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IS EXAMINED, AND THE PROGRESS MADE BY WOMEN AND MINORITIES TO ENTER POLICE WORK IS REVIEWED.
Abstract
IN SPITE OF THE ABOLISHMENT OF SIZE AND STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS IN MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WOMEN HAVE MADE LITTLE PROGRESS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT; ONLY 3 PERCENT OF SWORN OFFICERS ARE WOMEN. BECAUSE OF SOCIETY'S GENERALLY NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD WOMEN IN POLICE ROLES, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS APPLIED PRESSURE TO SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES AND STATES TO END DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AGAINST WOMEN. HOWEVER, STUDIES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WOMEN AS POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CONTRADICTORY AND INCONCLUSIVE. INADEQUATE REPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY RESULT FROM UNINTENTIONAL BARRIERS ERECTED BY THE INDIVIDUAL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR BY SOCIETY. SOME AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES HAVE RESULTED IN A LOWERING OF THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND THUS OF POLICE QUALITY. CHEATING SCANDALS HAVE OCCURRED IN SEVERAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS FILED SUIT AGAINST STATE HIGHWAY PATROLS OR POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN ARKANSAS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN. NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, AND VIRGINIA. A SUIT FILED BY THE DETROIT POLICE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION AGAINST THE CITY OF DETROIT AND ITS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN RESULTED IN A DECISION AGAINST THE QUOTA SYSTEM IMPOSED UNDER THE PLAN. EFFORTS TO RECRUIT HOMOSEXUALS, THE PRESENCE OF A TRANSSEXUAL ON THE WASHINGTON, D.C. POLICE FORCE, AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES REGARDING ALCOHOLICS AND DRUG ADDICTS ARE ALSO BRIEFLY DISCUSSED.