Recruiting & Retaining Women Recruiting & Retaining Recruiting & Retaining Women A Self-Assessment Guide for Law Enfor A A Self-Assessment Guide for Law Enforcement cement National Center for Women & Policing NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN & POLICING 8105 W. Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048 A Division of the Feminist Majority Foundation 323.651.2532 Fax 323.653.2689 [email protected] www.feminist.org/police/ncwp.html Recruiting & Retaining Women A Self-Assessment Guide for Law Enforcement NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN & POLICING A Division of the Feminist Majority Foundation Recruiting & Retaining Women: A Self-Assessment Guide for Law Enforcement was funded by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Grant #99-LD-VX-0003. Table of Contents Preface How This Self-Assessment Guide is Organized........................................17 Chapter 1 Hiring and Retaining More Women: The Advantages to Law Enforcement Agencies.......................................21 Chapter 2 Assessing a Law Enforcement Agency.........................................................33 Chapter 3: Developing a Job Description..........................................................................37 Statement of the Problem..............................................................................38 Legal Issues...................................................................................................38 Possible Solutions, Model Policies and Practices...........................................39 Checklist for Developing a Job Description...................................................39 Chapter 4: Recruiting Quality Candidates.........................................................................43 Statement of the Problem..............................................................................43 Legal Issues...................................................................................................45 Possible Solutions, Model Policies and Practices...........................................46 Forming a Recruitment Committee..................................................46 Designing Recruitment Brochures and Posters..............................48 Establishing a Recruiting Team........................................................49 Training Recruiters...........................................................................49 Finding Sources of Women Recruits.................................................50 Incentive Programs...........................................................................54 Youth Outreach Programs................................................................55 Monitoring Recruitment Efforts.......................................................56 Recruiting for State Agencies ...........................................................56 Recruiting for Sheriff’s Departments................................................57 Checklist for Recruiting Quality Candidates.................................................58 Chapter 5: Removing Obstacles in the Selection Process..........................................63 Statement of the Problem..............................................................................63 Physical Testing................................................................................66 Written Examinations.......................................................................69 Oral Interviews.................................................................................69 Background Investigations...............................................................72 Psychological Evaluation..................................................................75 Medical Evaluation...........................................................................76 Ranking and Hiring Eligible Applicants...........................................77 Checklist for Removing Obstacles in the Selection Process...........................79 Chapter 6: Designing Quality Recruit Academies and Field Training Programs................................................................................83 Statement of the Problem..............................................................................83 Legal Issues...................................................................................................85 Possible Solutions, Model Policies and Practices..........................................85 Training Committee..........................................................................85 Curriculum.......................................................................................86 Selecting the Academy Director..............................................................86 Selecting the Academy Instructors..........................................................86 Physical Fitness and Skills......................................................................87 Firearms Training.....................................................................................87 Sexual Harrassment, Discrimination, and Hostile Work Environment.................................................88 Selection of Field Training Officers.........................................................88 Monitoring Progress of Recruits.............................................................89 Checklist for Designing Quality Recruit Academies and Field Training Programs............................................................................90 Chapter 7: Mentoring to Increase Retention....................................................................93 Statement of the Problem..............................................................................93 Legal Issues...................................................................................................93 Possible Solutions, Model Policies and Practices...........................................93 Benefits of Mentoring Programs.............................................................94 Formal Mentoring Programs..................................................................94 Applicant Mentoring..............................................................................95 New Hire Mentoring...............................................................................95 Selection of Mentors................................................................................96 Training for Mentors and Mentees..........................................................96 Evaluation...............................................................................................97 Post-Academy Mentoring.......................................................................97 Informal Mentoring Programs................................................................97 Checklist for Mentoring for Retention.........................................................101 Chapter 8: Valuing Civilian Employees.............................................................................103 Statement of the Problem............................................................................103 Legal Issues.................................................................................................104 Possible Solutions, Model Policies and Practices........................................104 Career Path and Civilianization of Positions........................................104 Inclusiveness.........................................................................................104 Advocacy..............................................................................................105 Equal Pay..............................................................................................105 Training.................................................................................................105 Inclusion of Civilian Staff......................................................................106 Checklist for Valuing Civilian Employees...................................................109 Chapter 9: Implementing Family-Friendly Policies.......................................................111 Statement of the Problem.............................................................................111 Legal Issues..................................................................................................112 Possible Solutions, Model Policies and Practices.........................................112 Comprehensive Policies..................................................................112 Light Duty.......................................................................................113 Range Qualification........................................................................113 Uniforms.........................................................................................113 Disability Insurance and Paid Leave Benefits.................................114 Child Care Issues............................................................................114 Flexible Work Options....................................................................114 Checklist for Implementing Family-Friendly Policies.................................116 Chapter10: Monitoring Performance Evaluations..........................................................119 Statement of the Problem.............................................................................119 Legal Issues.................................................................................................120 Possible Solutions, Model Policies and Practices.........................................120