Representation in Police Agency Recruiting Materials

• In Event: Roundtable: Law Enforcement and Correctional Practice

Abstract

For many years, police agencies have been complaining about their shrinking work force spurred by a lack of qualified applicants. Some scholars have attributed this to the distrust of police especially among women and populations of color, while others argue it is because department hiring processes still structurally favor white, male applicants. To better understand why some applicants may self-select out of a possible career in police, this project examines the messages conveyed by the websites and online hiring materials of the 50 largest police agencies in the United States. Where available, representation in hiring media is compared to the racial and gender demographics of the officers employed by each police agency.

Author

• Sarah E. Murray, Roanoke College