Women in ISP – 30x30 Pledge

The Illinois State Police (ISP) is committed to increasing the number of women in the Department and is following the 30x30 Initiative.

The 30x30 Initiative is a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States. The ultimate goal of the 30x30 Initiative is to reach 30% of women in police recruit classes by 2030, and to ensure policing agencies are truly representative of the jurisdiction the agency serves.

In August 2021, the Illinois State Police (ISP) signed the national 30x30 Pledge – a series of actions policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. The Actions include helping policing agencies assess the current status of gender equity while, identifying factors that may be driving any disparities and developing and implementing strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers for women to advance in policing. These actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion, and agency culture.

More than 90 agencies – from major metro departments, including the New York City Police Department, to mid-sized, rural, university, and state policing agencies, – have signed the 30x30 Pledge. The Pledge is based on social science research that found that greater representation of women on police forces leads to better policing outcomes for communities.

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

For more information, visit www.30x30initiative.org. To join the ISP family, visit the Illinois State Police Merit Board site to apply at www.illinoistrooper.com.