50> 5% 1% Average Age of Students (AJ Program compared to EVC student population) Average Age of Student (Five Year Trend; 2008-2012) Gender While classes are generally gender-balanced, the AJ Program serves slightly more men than women. Historically speaking, most criminal justice jobs have been disproportionally held by men, but this trend is changing over time, and consequently more women are training for careers in the justice system. In the last two decades, the rising salaries, employee benefits, and professionalization of criminal justice careers have attracted a more diverse population. While the general college population is currently about 53% female and 47% male, the AJ Program is slightly reversed with 45% female and 55% male (2011 averages). Interestingly, this gender has remained about the same for the last three years, with the exception of 2010, where male enrollment slightly increased and female enrollment slightly decreased. An article in Police Chief (October, 2012) addressed the issue of gender demographic imbalances within the Law Enforcement profession by concluding, population does not mirror the general population in gender, age, employment and “The ethnic aspects, and in 2007 only 13% of law enforcement officers were female.” (Police Chief Magazine, October 2012). Generally speaking, the law enforcement profession employs females at a proportionally lower rate than other careers. Likewise, the AJ Program does not reflect the demographics of Law Enforcement and in fact educates significantly more females than what is seen in the profession. The AJ Program’s gender percentage actually indicates that more women are becoming interested in criminal justice careers. More women are enrolling and attending the Program because they see criminal justice careers as a real and legitimate choice. In conclusion, the AJ Program has a higher number of female students proportionally than both the college general student population and the current career gender demographic. As women continue to earn more positions in the criminal justice fields, this gender-imbalance trend within the profession will also change and will likely move closer toward the gender demographic seen within the Program and the college general population.
50> 5% 1% Average Age of Students (AJ Program compared to EVC student population) Average Age of Student (Five Year Trend; 2008-2012) Gender While classes are generally gender-balanced, the AJ Program serves slightly more men than women. Historically speaking, most criminal justice jobs have been disproportionally held by men, but this trend is changing over time, and consequently more women are training for careers in the justice system. In the last two decades, the rising salaries, employee benefits, and professionalization of criminal justice careers have attracted a more diverse population. While the general college population is currently about 53% female and 47% male, the AJ Program is slightly reversed with 45% female and 55% male (2011 averages). Interestingly, this gender has remained about the same for the last three years, with the exception of 2010, where male enrollment slightly increased and female enrollment slightly decreased. An article in Police Chief (October, 2012) addressed the issue of gender demographic imbalances within the Law Enforcement profession by concluding, “The population does not mirror the general population in gender, age, employment and ethnic aspects, and in 2007 only 13% of law enforcement officers were female.” (Police Chief Magazine, October 2012). Generally speaking, the law enforcement profession employs females at a proportionally lower rate than other careers. Likewise, the AJ Program does not reflect the demographics of Law Enforcement and in fact educates significantly more females than what is seen in the profession. The AJ Program’s gender percentage actually indicates that more women are becoming interested in criminal justice careers. More women are enrolling and attending the Program because they see criminal justice careers as a real and legitimate choice. In conclusion, the AJ Program has a higher number of female students proportionally than both the college general student population and the current career gender demographic. As women continue to earn more positions in the criminal justice fields, this gender-imbalance trend within the profession will also change and will likely move closer toward the gender demographic seen within the Program and the college general population.