NCJ Number
173887
Date Published
1996
Length
290 pages
Annotation
Semi-structured interviews with 72 homosexual criminal justice personnel were used to examine the experiences of lesbians and gay men in criminal justice agencies, including police agencies, courts, and corrections agencies; the volume presents the stories of 21 males and 22 females from 16 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada.
Abstract
About 10 percent of the participants were recruited by means of public notices through the Internet; 90 percent were derived by snowball sampling. The interviews lasted from 1 to 4.5 hours and covered the individual's developmental history, the decision to enter criminal justice, and experiences as homosexuals in the criminal justice system. The interviews also focused on the participants' decisions and experiences regarding disclosure of homosexuality, reactions of colleagues, and experiences as criminal justice personnel in the lesbian and gay community. Findings revealed that homosexual criminal justice personnel continue to experience discrimination and harassment. Few criminal justice agencies or municipalities have anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation; policies that do exist are sporadically enforced. Isolated lawsuits have begun to force agencies to end discrimination, but discriminatory practices often continue. Characteristics of organizations and individuals that affect homosexuals' experiences include location, power, and status. Findings indicate the need for homosexuals who are interested in a criminal justice career to choose agencies wisely, for heterosexuals to confront homophobia, and for registered voters to urge legislators to support a Federal anti-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation. 79 references