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Female Correctional Officers

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There have been several arguments over the years as to why women should not be employed as correctional officers. Reasons for the opposition include a belief that women are physically weaker than men and can’t hold their own in a fight with male inmates — a fear that women could fall prey to an inmate and be raped by those sexually deprived and predatory male inmates. Lastly, an overall assumption that women are mentally weak and unable to handle the mental challenges of working in an all-male prison environment. “GOOD OLD BOYS” The majority of excuses for the failure to hire women in the correctional setting could be the old school, “good old boys club” mentality from the 1970’s era. During my own career in the corrections industry, I …show more content…

Some male inmates respect female officers and have no issue with them. While other male inmates are resentful of them working among a male population. A female officer will utilize various strategies when presenting themselves in different correctional situations. A “Normative- feminine presentation” is typically the officer who is perceived as most feminine in appearance and least aggressive in attitude. In contrast, a “hyper-masculine” female officer is viewed as being aggressive, unbending and masculine in appearance. Depending on how a female guard handles herself with the male inmate population, she will either gain or lose respect. Interestingly, recent studies show that a Normative-feminine presentation is the most accepted and conducive for cohesiveness while working among a male population. The balanced, calm, relaxed and communicative manner of interaction has positive results among the inmate population. Sometimes the perception of being overly inmate-friendly can cause resentment among male correctional officers who prefer a more masculine and dominant dynamic of policing. However, a balanced approach with inmates can create a calm atmosphere within a housing unit. This type of presence and authority makes for establishing mutual respect and compliance from the …show more content…

Often the female officer with harsh, less feminine characteristics, abrupt, unapproachable, hardcore, aggressive energy and controlling presence will be met with hostility from inmates and even male colleagues. This response from inmate population is not to her outward appearance, but, to the female officer who attempts to heavily overcompensate for her gender through demanding and commanding with no flexibility. AN OFFICER TO BE RESPECTED Inmate perceptions of female officers can be positive or negative dependent upon the interaction. If inmates are held accountable with the expectation of having appropriate and respectful interactions with the females who are guarding them, there will be a higher potential for cohesiveness among inmates and officers. The female officer will then be viewed as simply the officer who is to be respected. Women who enter the profession of corrections must face a number of obstacles. While the challenge of gender-bias is certainly present, it does not have to preclude the female officer from effectively accomplishing their job. The woman who succeeds in the field of corrections will adapt through fostering her internal fortitude and mental toughness so she can navigate the many challenges she faces

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Previous chapters in the book The Art of the Con have told its readers to never trust an inmate and to always assume that the inmate is lying. This truth plays a major role in Chapter 4 of the book. This chapter is titled “The art on manipulation”. It goes into much detail about manipulation. Specifically, it mentions what to expect from inmates and how to deal with their deception.

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Angela Davis demonstrates the ongoing violent abuse as she quotes a report on sexual maltreatment in women’s prisons, “We found that male correctional employees have vaginally, anally, and orally raped female prisoners and sexually assaulted and abused them” (Davis 78). However disturbing this blunt sexual contact that male officers take with the vulnerable prisoners may be, the officers adopt even more severe tactics to harass and abuse the women as they often utilize “mandatory pat-frisks or room searches to grope women 's breasts, buttocks, and vaginal areas...” (Davis 79). To add insult to injury, women are virtually incapable of escaping from their abuser(s). Prison employees upkeep their inappropriate behavior as it is believed they will “rarely be held accountable, administratively or criminally” (Davis 78).

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Feminist criminology has been around since the late 1960's and started out centered on speculations brought upon traditional theories of crime. Most traditional theories didn't necessarily ignore women in the criminal justice system yet they generalized crime and what causes a person to turn to crime so that women who commit crimes are overlooked by the generalization. Not only are the numbers skewed when you look at gender in criminal justice offenders but there is also a certain bias in the criminal justice systems workers. In the movie Vera Drake there is a clear example of this when the investigator and the officer come into the movie. While watching you can easily assume that the female officer is treated and thought of much differently

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To begin the essay, it is best to look at the general concept of women policing according to an article called Policing Women/Top Cops/Triumph of Spirit, the history and current status of women in law enforcement is a topic of interest for women who wish to enter the profession (Rienerth, 2001). It through this article, that women were first used in the criminal justice system in the 1800s to deal with female prisoners as they were matrons in jails and prisons (Rienerth, 2001). Early female police officers often came from the ranks of social work and were located in separate department, had separate outfits, pay scales and duties from the male officers (Rienerth, 2001). Often times because of the female officers’ social work experience it was

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Police officers constantly at risk for becoming victims of physical and psychological violence (Gutierrez, 2013) in the line of duty. In serving and protecting the people, the deal with criminals, murderers, domestic dispute, negative portrayal in the media, civil unrest, and organizational challenges (Karaffa, 2012; Gutierrez, 2013). Police officers often feel misunderstood and unappreciated by the general population despite their efforts to protect and serve, as a protective measure, they form bond with each other and develop ways to effectively cope with the challenges unique to the job as a group. Police officers had a distinct set of norms and values and as a result of their shift work officers tend to socialize with each other (Karaffa, 2012). The predominance of males in the police force (80%) has fostered masculine values such as toughness, aggression and machismo by reinforcing emotional control and toughness even in the light of danger.

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Part of a larger police matron movement in the United States that began in Portland, Maine, in 1878, Matron Hill worked for 27 years to care for female criminals and their children. Police matrons duties varied, but they included sheltering and protecting women and children in custody (“The Beginning”). Women did not achieve full recognition in law enforcement for decades. By the 1970s they still made up

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Since the beginning of the mid-1800's, American females have been involved with social reform movements. This thirst for equality paved the way for many opportunities. In the process, the woman movement has pursued the same equal opportunity rights through the criminal court's system. This era simply wanted the same rights that male offenders already had. However, more than one hundred years later, history repeated itself.

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Another comment that Galindo mentioned is, “You must hate working with those kids all time.” Again, this is asked to Galindo, but he mainly deals with adults that come from prison. Working only with children and being mistaken as a correction officer, are the main misconceptions male

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When it comes to women one barrier is the physical aspect of the training and the job itself. Women are generally weaker than men and that could cause a problem when dealing with male assailants. Men police officers often make it harder for women to show and prove their strengths because, they are men and think a women cannot handle certain situations. The book also discusses another barrier, which is women are not often put in higher positions. Which does not give new women officers any mentors to look for and turn to.

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