Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement

Publication Date: 2016
Tag(s): diversity and multiculturalism, law enforcement, lessons learned, recruitment, hiring, and retention, strategies
Author(s): Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
Abstract: In December 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission launched a research initiative, Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement, both to identify barriers that undermine diversity in law enforcement and to highlight promising practices that help agencies better reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. The initiative focused on barriers and promising practices across three key areas: recruitment, hiring, and retention. In so doing, this initiative has taken a broad examination of various barriers to diversity, while also placing particular emphasis on practices that advance greater racial and gender diversity and that foster the inclusion of the perspectives and experiences of persons of diverse backgrounds in the culture and leadership of law enforcement agencies. The resulting report is designed to serve as a resource for all law enforcement agencies, particularly small and medium-size agencies grappling with the challenges around increasing diversity and working hard to implement effective, impactful, and promising practices for change.