ABSTRACT
Women have had a role in American policing since at least the 1800s when they began serving as volunteer matrons in prisons and jails. While there are still far fewer women in policing than there are men, women have made great strides in the policing profession. This chapter discusses female police officers, focusing primarily on female officers in America. It begins with a history of women in policing and is followed by a discussion about the current representation of women in policing. This chapter also discusses potential barriers to the recruitment and retention of female officers, and examines the on-thejob performance and experiences of female officers. The movement of women officers into high-level administrative positions is also discussed. Finally, a brief comparison is made between women police in the United States and women police in other countries.
