Women in the Criminal Justice System

Before the early 1970s there were not many jobs in the criminal justice field for women. In fact, there were more women in the criminal justice system as offenders than there were working for the criminal justice system. Not only being women but also being an African American woman, it was even harder for them to get jobs. According to ( ) “the few positions they did occupy were considered “specialist” slots that drew on the qualities and skills associated with their gender” ( )”. The criminal justice system has always been looked at as a “male dominate field” until the early 1970s. “During the 1960s and 1970s the legislative process extended equal employment opportunities to previously excluded group including women… this civil right ACT of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity ACT of 1972.” The Equal Employment Opportunity ACT of 1972 was to promote equal employment opportunities for American workers. The numbers, rates, and percentages began to rise for women. There were women police officer, special agents, secret service ect. Although, women were gaining these jobs they still had many problems they had to deal with once becoming a part of the criminal justice system. Sexual harassment was one major problem women had to deal with in their career.

Americans wanted their promise of the 14th Amendment which addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws. “The provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex as well as race in hiring, promoting, and firing” ( ). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EECO) was created by title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EECO was to improve title VII effectiveness. It was said that it was time to correct the defects in the legislation.