Today Ambassador Kelly Degnan opened the 9th Annual Women in Policing Conference organized by U.S. Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL). This conference is designed to empower, inspire, and educate female members of the criminal justice system.
Studies show that female law enforcement officers police differently than their male counterparts – they use less force when confronted with resistance, they are less likely to be the subject of citizen complaints, and they often use their verbal skills to de-escalate situations without resorting to physical force. Although the percentage of women involved in law enforcement has increased throughout the world, there are still barriers to their full participation in both promotions and assignments. Through this conference, the U.S. aims to play part in addressing these issues and empower women to help them serve the public at their maximum capacity.