The impact of women in law enforcement Research Paper

The impact of women in law enforcement - Research Paper Example Notwithstanding this occurrence, women are still struggling for acceptance, inside and outside the department. Though there is a clear-cut gap between the number of women currently in law enforcement, and the number that should be working. Women continue to face an ongoing battle, not only to become police officers, but also to gain the acceptance once employed. There is no questioning that, the disparity between the number of men and women, working in police departments have had a negative impact on the police subculture, operations, and effectiveness of law enforcement agencies throughout the nation (Scarborough & Collins 2002). So what are we waiting for? It is time to give this question a serious consideration. Maybe the question is totally answerable (in the mind of some), but certainly, it is worth serious discussion, and hopefully action on the needs of communities. Different communities face difficulty recruiting candidates for police positions. One has to wonder why they are ignoring the pool of women who are available and interested in entering the law enforcement. In fact, some police agencies are giving police candidates at least $11,000 to sign up. In addition, candidates are paid while attending a police academy. Currently, female officers are still relatively unknown to lay person, especially in smaller communities and non-metropolitan counties. Most people have not been stopped, questioned or even assisted by a female police officer. But that is changing, and an increasing number of citizens will realize certain fraternal, religious, or ethnic backgrounds proved important for entry and advancement in the police service. This was true for the Irish, Italians, Jews, Mormons, and Masons. Recently, with the advent of affirmative action, blacks, Latinos and Orientals have entered the police service in increasing numbers, and have assumed leadership positions in many departments. Police ranks (through the 1960s) were dominated by the male recruits. Ro okies learned from veteran officers that the way to get along in a police organization was to never rock the boat. Each new officer was expected to internalize norms and the value system of the department, and to accept the operating principle of maintaining the status quo. As new police officers, they were taught that criminals, civil right activists, and feminist were the enemies. It was a question of the police versus the criminal element. Shocked by the changes occurring at such a rapid pace, the police during the 1960s rejected charges of racism and sexism and viewed themselves as minorities and the last vestige of society’s protectors. The real thin blue line was striving to contain the rabble that was trying to destroy the American way of life. All of this resulted in a continuing pattern of sexism, whereby women were discriminated on the basis that change was not needed, and that police work could only be performed by men. Unfortunately, vestiges of these remain as no ted by a number of women filing suit against police departments for sexual discrimination. There is a need for women to be represented in law enforcement, and once admitted to the ranks, they should have every opportunity