NCJ Number
28904
Journal
RESOLUTION OF CORRECTIONAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUES Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (SUMMER 1975) Pages: 19-21
Date Published
1975
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A DESCRIPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL PROGRAM UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO FEMALE CORRECTIONAL WORKERS BY GRADUAL AND CONTROLLED INCREASES IN WOMEN EMPLOYEES.
Abstract
THE BASIC INTENT OF THE CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONS EFFORT IS TO EMPLOY WOMEN IN NUMBERS THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT FEMALE EMPLOYEES CAN PERFORM IN CORRECTIONAL WORK SITUATIONS EQUALLY AS WELL AS MALES. IN 1974, AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM OF LOGICAL AND PROGRESSIVE EXPANSION IN THE USE OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES WAS IMPLEMENTED; THIS PLAN WOULD ALLOW FACILITIES TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS AT DIFFERENT RATES BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT TRADITIONS AND PHYSICAL PLANTS. IT WAS FELT THAT THIS WOULD ALLOW WOMEN TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOBS AND WOULD ALLOW A TRADITION-ORIENTED DEPARTMENT TO UNDERGO SUCH A RADICAL CHANGE GRADUALLY. THIS PROGRAM HAS RESULTED IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF ABOUT 100 FEMALE OFFICERS IN SUCH JOBS AS SAFETY COORDINATOR, CHIEF OF INMATE APPEALS, PAROLE AGENTS, AND COUNSELORS. ALL CALIFORNIA INSTITUTIONS NOW EMPLOY FEMALE OFFICERS, AND SOME HAVE OPENED ALL POSTS TO FEMALES - INCLUDING POSTS WHICH REQUIRE DIRECT CONTACT WITH INMATES. IT HAS BEEN NOTED THAT FEMALE OFFICERS PERFORM EQUALLY AS WELL AS THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS. IN ADDITION, EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY MALE INMATES, AND APPEARS TO HAVE IMPROVED THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME INMATES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)