This article introduces the 30X30 Initiative, designed to advance women in policing roles.
The 30x30 Initiative, a national grassroots effort to improve both the representation and experiences of women in policing with the ultimate goal of improving public safety outcomes across communities, has produced a robust body of promising practices, demographic data, and lessons learned about what works and what matters for advancing women in the profession. In the coming years, these efforts will expand through support for the US Department of Justice to analyze agency trends, understand promising practices to advance gender equity in other industries, and develop an evidence-informed implementation guide for all public agencies seeking to address gender equity and improve inclusivity in the workplace. Women make up only 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leaders in the United States, and these numbers have remained stagnant for decades. While this is concerning from a gender equity perspective, it is also concerning from a public safety perspective, as a growing body of research demonstrates the unique value of women officers—from fewer uses of excessive force, to improved trust with diverse communities, to better outcomes for victims of crime. (Published Abstract Provided)