Today, Explained Can women fix the police?
May 31, 2022
Maureen McGough, Chief of Staff at the Policing Project at NYU Law, spearheads the 30 by 30 initiative aimed at increasing women's representation in police forces to 30% by 2030. She discusses the significant impact that female officers can have on reducing excessive force and enhancing community trust. The conversation highlights the historical challenges women face in law enforcement, the importance of diversity, and how systemic changes are necessary for nurturing an inclusive environment within police departments.
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Challenges for Women Police Officers
- Women officers lacked properly fitting Kevlar and uniforms.
- They also resorted to pumping breast milk in their cruisers or public restrooms.
Value of Women Officers
- Research suggests women officers use less force, receive fewer complaints, and make better decisions during stops.
- They also have better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases.
Barriers to Gender Parity
- Gender parity in policing lags due to societal gender inequality and policing's hyper-masculine nature.
- The decentralized structure of US police departments with over 18,000 agencies and no centralized leadership also makes broad change difficult.