Women in Corrections/Law Enforcement - What can attract more women to this field?

2015-10-28T21:32:20-04:00

I'm curious to get feedback from men and women on this topic. I am on affirmative action committee and am a recruiter at a federal prison. Today was our annual retreat and we covered statistics of what we looked like demographically as a prison compared to the model of what we should look like for EEO based on our nearest city. We are not meeting the 50% mark for employed women it would like us to model, nor are we anywhere close. I'm one of 6 female correctional officers , there are 43 total female employees between all departments. I have a recruiting trip at FT.Drum next week and would love to get some insight on what may or may not being drawing females to or away from this field?

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2015 9:47 PM

2015-10-28T21:47:11-04:00

Well, the truth is, anytime you base the hiring process on demographic statistics you know - this is a wrong approach. Eventually it always comes down to denying employment to thise who REALLY want it while granting it to those who really don't care enough about it to even consider it in the first place, until you tell them - hey, we are hiring YOUR group, wanna come?!?

Wrong approach.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2015 9:54 PM

2015-10-28T21:54:34-04:00

Perhaps a lot of women do not want to work in corrections.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Oct 28 at 2015 11:12 PM

2015-10-28T23:12:04-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member With respect, it's hard to believe that your employer can't figure this out: women in your position face the constant threat of violence and rape, to a a degree that is not 'normal' (giving a nod here to the fact that this is something women do need to be aware of generally), and the associated constant stress that goes with it. It seems like you are strong enough to deal with those issues...but many are not, or choose not to. This really seems like a no-brainer to me. Half the men working as CO's don't want to be there.

What's their pitch look lilke? "Come be a CO! Constant threat of physical violence at low low government wages!!" ??

Who could pass that up?

On another note, welcome to RP, 1LT!

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Oct 28 at 2015 11:16 PM

2015-10-28T23:16:06-04:00

I realize what you are saying, it is not that you are "hiring" a demographic, but how can you recruit more of a demographic to put in for the job. I think that working in the Correctional Profession is extremely difficult, and the # of folks of any demographic that would put in is always going to be lower than other Law Enforcement Fields. I think that it would take a special person to put in for and to finish a career in Corrections. I wish that I had an idea of how to recruit for that job, but frankly, have no input.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 29 at 2015 12:19 AM

2015-10-29T00:19:58-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Face it, working in a prison/ penitentiary is not a position to brag about! My father did, he was very successful; suddenly it was all over! It is a hard life! Also, there is little public exposure of your duty or of your interaction w/ real-regular people

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Oct 29 at 2015 12:58 AM

2015-10-29T00:58:25-04:00

At the risk of sounding misogynistic, I don't see this on the girl's "Things I'd Like to Do When I Grow Up" list. I showed your question to my two daughters (15- and 17-yrs old). Their response was dismissive and borderline unsavory: "You're kidding me, right?" Look at the demographics of those in the military: While they may reflect racial diversity, the field is still male dominated.

Response by SGT Hakeem Moore made Oct 29 at 2015 9:08 AM

2015-10-29T09:08:10-04:00

One suggestion is to conduct a community assessment. As a community organizer I us this strategy to develop an informed understanding of the gaps or needs that exist within a specific target demographic.

Another idea is to conduct a focus group of 12 to 15 females between ages of 20 to 54. Further network with a temporary staffing agency to help with identifying this population. Try to have a mixture of Veterans, transitioning military, college students, etc.; it would also be a good idea to reach out to your local OIF/OEF representative within the Department of Veterans Affairs to help identify potential candidates.

Hope this helps.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Oct 29 at 2015 9:32 AM

2015-10-29T09:32:37-04:00

I started my federal career at FCC Florence in Correctional Services. I'd have to think about what I could offer as it was back in the 1990s.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Oct 29 at 2015 12:24 PM

2015-10-29T12:24:27-04:00

As a semi-recent BOP retiree, I think the BOP doesn't quite grasp the notion that the federal penal system only has a handful of female prisons and most women probably don't want to work at a male facility. Secondly, not very many folks think of working in a prison as a "career". I know I didn't when I met a BOP recruiter. I fell into it, after trying to get on with a police department for over a year after ETS'ing.
Try selling this truth: Come work for the BOP, initially as a correctional officer, but realize there are numerous other jobs within the prison that you can apply for. That is, once you've gotten your foot in the door. You don't have to be a CO for your entire career.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 29 at 2015 1:54 PM

2015-10-29T13:54:24-04:00

Tough row to hoe. You have the media telling us how terrible the LEOs are and just want to kill or maim minorities. In today's environment, I would not like to go recruiting is a High School or college for women LEOs. The "War on Cops" and the administration has been very effective. What is really needed is more of the black population to step up and eliminate the so-called out of control cops. That should be the focus. I know that is not your mandate, but is very relevant.

Response by PO3 Maria Flasher made Oct 29 at 2015 1:55 PM

2015-10-29T13:55:24-04:00

My husband is an MP in the ARMY and as much as I respect him and what he does, I know that I would not likely make a very good police officer. I know, I know. Corrections is different from police work, but I think what many women worry about is the violence that could befall them for being in this line of work. I could see myself working in corrections on the medical side, but I'm also the kind of person who would not accept someone touching me without my permission. I also think there's a lot of stigma to being a woman in this field, a need to be as strong and resilient as not only or male counterparts, but also as the inmates we are there to guard and protect.

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 29 at 2015 2:11 PM

2015-10-29T14:11:46-04:00

As I can only assume what females might object to I think the best idea is to seek out this information in a focus group of females within the desired hiring age range. Personally I feel the diversity should be inline with the prison population and not the outside community. However there is the possibility of gender disparity. All girls college, nunnery, or other factors that could be affecting your population. It might be of interest to take a look at the standard deviation of male to female within the desired age range that would be typical for the positions at the prison and compare that to other surrounding communities just to make sure something isn't affecting your population. As I can only guess at what is causing the imbalance I'm going with females lacking the skill set (LEO or CO education, personality, physique and or desire) to apply for the position.

Response by Cpl Sabrina L. made Oct 29 at 2015 4:54 PM

2015-10-29T16:54:30-04:00

one word...RESPECT

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Oct 29 at 2015 5:26 PM

2015-10-29T17:26:46-04:00

Basically, the person has to have the stomach for it.

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Oct 29 at 2015 6:27 PM

2015-10-29T18:27:35-04:00

Give it up. Hire the most qualified period. I have worked in corrections for the last 21 years and I spent the past two days on a board to select three new employees. I am proud to say that we selected a mixed bag of highly qualified women and men for the positions that were available. I don't care about anything other than who will show up and do their best every day. I want reliability and capability to complete my team.

Response by SPC Kathleen Jenkins made Oct 30 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-10-30T11:10:39-04:00

After leaving the Army as a 96B, Intelligence Analyst, I was hired by a state LE agency to be a Criminal Intelligence Analyst and used many of the same tools. The TS/SCI was a huge help.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2015 12:33 AM

2015-10-31T00:33:31-04:00

I think we should only want the best for these jobs, but if big brother says we have to have so many women and so many men, do your best to recruit only those who can actually do the job based on their qualifications.

Response by SFC Kenneth Highland made Oct 31 at 2015 7:25 PM

2015-10-31T19:25:53-04:00

AS ONE WHO HAS WORKED IN THE NC DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SMALL TOWN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NOW AS A STATE TROOPER I NOW OFFER MY VIEWS. COMPLETELY REMOVE THE RACE AND SEX BLOCKS, THEY SHOULD NOT EVEN BE THERE ANYMORE. TO EVEN ASK ONES RACE/SEX ONLY SERVES TO KEEP THE RACIST/SEXIEST PATTERN ALIVE. BASE ONES HIRING ON THEIR RESUME' AND THEN A THOROUGH BACK GROUND CHECK AND DRUG TESTING. THEN GIVE A PHYSICAL STANDARDS TEST THAT COINCIDES WITH THE JOB EXPECTATIONS. IF THEY PASS THIS THEN OFFER EMPLOYMENT WITH A RESPECTABLE BENEFITS PACKAGE, THIS IS HOW YOU WILL RETAIN QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES. LEO/CORRECTIONS JOBS THAT REQUIRE A COLLEGE DEGREE AND ONLY PAY $32,000 A YEAR ARE A JOKE. REWARD SOLID WORK WITH SOLID BENEFITS, YOU'LL BE BE AMAZED AT HOW PEOPLE WILL THEN WORK. CASE IN POINT, MY DEPARTMENT WILL GIVE A COLLEGE GRAD WHO ONLY HAS 3 YEARS EXPERIENCE 20 EXTRA POINTS ON THE PROMOTION LIST. SOMEBODY LIKE ME WHO HAS NO COLLEGE, 26 YEARS MILITARY (USMC/USA), MULTIPLY LEADERSHIP COURSE'S AND ACTUAL LEADERSHIP DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES A BIG FAT "ZERO" FOR PROMOTION POINTS.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Oct 31 at 2015 8:49 PM

2015-10-31T20:49:19-04:00

I would bet that it is because it is just not an attractive job to a lot of women. I think a lot of that comes from how Hollywood portrays prisons as dangerous, dark places controlled by inmates. I would say if you are trying to recruit women, you have to show them how working there can benefit them using yourself as an example. If you can overcome stereotypes, you may have success.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 9:13 AM

2015-11-03T09:13:31-05:00

I worked for 31 years in corrections. Pay is low and working conditions are rough. We are lucky to get anyone that won't traffic with an inmate, much less wording abt the demographics of who we hire. Very hard to get individuals to work with rapers, murders, arsonists, bank robbers, and baby rapers. Much better pay and better benefits would start attracting the right people...

Response by Sgt Bobby Armentrout made Nov 3 at 2015 11:28 AM

2015-11-03T11:28:52-05:00

I read a lot of the comments and it seems that most responses already addressed the "Choose the most qualified" and you've dealt with that. Yes, your priority should be to fill the vacancies with the most qualified applicants you get. But your question didn't ask if you should do that, and you indicated several times that you do...

So... I am going to share an insight that was told to me almost 17 years ago, and while it isn't entirely accurate, it does give insight. It is not my personal deeply held belief, so don't hold it against me but as nearly as I can quote the old timer, he said "There are three kinds of women who become cops: Lesbos, nymphos, and psychos." Now, I confess I found it funny, and over my nearly 17 years with two different agencies, I have seen plenty of all three. But I've seen that in the male ranks too, as well as plenty of chicks you could count on in a fight, and some guys who curled up in the fetal position when the SHTF. You just never know.

That said, what you should take away is not that you should recruit nymphos, although a lot of your male coworkers would probably applaud your effort if you did, but that you should poll your existing female employees, perhaps anonymously, and ask why they did, and go to the places you normally recruit and ask women why they are not applying. Job fairs, especially on military bases and college campuses, would be a good start. Ask what appeals to them, and go where that type of person hangs out.

One last thought. When I went back to college to finish my meager Associate's Degree a few years back, it was during a push to hire college graduates. I also attended several job fairs with our department recruiter at Camp Lejeune. I heard this kind of stuff several times from college grads "36k is all? Man, I can do better than that." so pay is definitely an issue. And from several minority groups. "Are you crazy? Why would I put up with all that crap for 36k? I'm going to college and make some real money." And military pay is a lot better now, so a lot of folks who choose a life of service and can also do arithmetic stay in because similar jobs in LE or Corrections don't pay nearly what they make even as an E4 or E5.

To give you the short answer to your question, if Mohammed won't come to the mountain, you have to take the mountain to Mohammed. And then you have to figure out how to make it attractive to them. Good luck Lt.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 2:01 PM

2015-11-03T14:01:57-05:00

Being that that field is prodominately male; females just want to get treated equally. Some females may be afriad that they will get treated unfairly or be put behind a desk. So many things go on behinds doors that make you not want to do it. As womens in a mans field' we have to work twice as hard to prove a point.

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 6:56 PM

2015-11-04T18:56:55-05:00

I had considered going into Correction/Law Enforcement, but there were problems: Hours. Daycares in my area are only open for so many hours, and the one that is open from 0630-Midnight M-Sat only allows you to have a child in care for 10 hours a day. I was lucky to get into a security job that met the requirements I needed.
In both cases, a major issue I kept running into was finances. For the demands of the job, law enforcement and corrections do not pay NEAR enough. So if the woman has children, both of these are huge considerations to take into account.