Cara Rabe-Hemp
Professor of Criminal Justice, Illinois State University
Key Findings
- Eighty percent of the sampled agencies had written policies for maternity leave, but one-third of the policies are discretionary.
- About 28% of agencies had formal light duty work policies with 82% of those policies being discretionary.
- Agencies reported 119 days were available for maternity leave but most mothers took an average of 75 days (including an average of 28 pre-birth days) while the fathers took an average of 28 days.
- Agencies reported an average of 1.32% of officers use maternity leave and 3.01% use paternity leave.
- Paternity leave was strongly correlated with maternity and disability leave.
Description
In the article, “A survey of maternity policies and pregnancy accommodations in American police departments,” Rabe-Hemp and her co-author examine maternity policies in police departments to support women in the industry as research shows 60% female officers may become pregnant during their employment. The researchers collected data by interviewing police administrators and human resource specialists from police agencies. Agencies, which employ the most women, were used to ensure departments that employ/recruit women are being sampled as opposed to departments that do not have gender diversity. The sample included agencies nationwide with female officers accounting for 10% or more of the sworn officers. The results found that 80% of the sampled agencies had written policies for maternity leave, but one-third of the policies were discretionary. About 28% of agencies had formal light duty work policies with 82% of those policies being discretionary. Agencies reported 119 days were available for maternity leave, but most mothers took an average of 75 days (including an average of 28 pre-birth days) while the fathers took an average of 28 days. Agencies reported significant administrative shifts from maternity and paternity leave to a shared family leave. Agencies reported an average of 1.32% of officers use maternity leave and 3.01% use paternity leave. The authors noted that paternity leave was strongly correlated with maternity and disability leave that further supports the shift to family leave.