NCJ Number
55412
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 48,50,52,54,56,58,60,62-63,72-75
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
DECLINING MUNICIPAL BUDGETS, LAYOFFS OF POLICE OFFICERS, UNIFIED POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND TRADITIONAL ATTITUDES ARE SEEN AS SLOWING THE GAINS WOMEN HAVE MADE TO DATE IN POLICE EMPLOYMENT.
Abstract
MUCH OF THIS FORECAST IS BASED ON PROJECT STAR (SYSTEMS AND TRAINING ANALYSIS OF REQUIREMENTS), A 39-MONTH RESEARCH EFFORT ON THE FUTURE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION STATISTICS SHOW THAT BETWEEN 1971 AND 1977 EMPLOYMENT OF POLICEWOMEN ROSE FROM 1.4 TO 2.7 PERCENT, AND IN 1977 THERE WERE 13,996 WOMEN EMPLOYED AS POLICE OFFICERS. A NOTED AUTHORITY ON WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT PREDICTS THAT IN 100 YEARS 50 PERCENT OF POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE WOMEN AND THAT WOMEN WILL HOLD 30 PERCENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS. THIS REVIEW DISAGREES. RESISTANCE TO THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IS SEEN AS INDICATIVE OF TRADITIONAL FORCES IN SOCIETY HINDERING LARGE INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF POLICEWOMEN. IT IS PREDICTED THAT BY 2000 A.D. WOMEN WILL CONSTITUTE 10 TO 15 PERCENT OF TOTAL POLICE EMPLOYMENT AND WILL HOLD ONLY 5 PERCENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS, MOSTLY AT THE SERGEANT LEVEL. THE FOLLOWING REASONS ARE GIVEN: TIGHTER BUDGETS, THE TREND TOWARD MERGER OF POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS INTO PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, HIGHER TURNOVER RATES FOR WOMEN POLICE OFFICERS, TRADITIONAL VIEWS HELD BY POLICE CHIEFS (WHO ARE MAINLY WHITE MALES) AND TRADITIONAL FORCES STILL EVIDENT IN SOCIETY. MERGED FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE SEEN AS DETRIMENTAL TO WOMEN BECAUSE OF THE GREATER STRENGTH AND AGILITY REQUIRED BY FIRE DEPARTMENTS. TRADITIONAL POLICE CAMARADERIE IS ALSO SEEN AS A SUBTLE BAR TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN. HOWEVER, IF POLICE STRUCTURES CHANGE FROM PARAMILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO A MORE SOCIAL SERVICES ORIENTATION, WOMEN OFFICERS WILL BE AIDED. FOOTNOTES CONTAIN EXTENSIVE REFERENCES. (GLR)