The National Policing Institute is pleased to announce its partnership with a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations in recently launching the 30×30 Initiative. To date, more than 40 policing agencies across the country announced their commitment to the 30×30 Pledge—a foundational effort of the Initiative—which provides a framework for a series of no-cost and low-cost actions that policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in all ranks.

The Policing Project at the New York University School of Law, along with the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), are proud founding partners of this critical movement.

The 30×30 Initiative’s work is based on the research-backed premise that women officers achieve better policing outcomes for communities. Social science research suggests that women officers:

• Use less force and less excessive force
• Are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits
• Are perceived by communities as being more honest and compassionate
• See better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases
• Make fewer discretionary arrests, especially of non-white residents

“Like so many industries with immense power and responsibility, policing has a gender problem. Gender inequity and lack of representation alone is reason enough to seek change – yet the work is even more urgent when you pair it with the fact that increased representation for women is associated with positive outcomes for communities,” said Maureen McGough, co-founder of the 30×30 Initiative, Chief of Staff of the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law, and former policing expert at the U.S. Department of Justice. “This pledge is the first step in the ongoing work to cultivate a more inclusive culture in policing so that qualified women of all backgrounds can serve their community as sworn officers and leaders. Advancing women in policing will help everyone.”

Participating agencies range from a half-dozen major metro departments including the New York City Police Department, to mid-sized, rural, university and state policing agencies. The 30×30 Initiative aims to have 250 agencies sign the pledge in its first year.

To learn more about the 30×30 Initiative, visit 30x30Initiative.org.