Gender distribution of full-time U.S. law enforcement employees 2020

In 2020, 60 percent of full-time civilian law enforcement employees in the United States were female. Only 13.1 percent of full-time law enforcement officers were female, while 86.9 percent of law enforcement officers were male.

The gender divide

Law enforcement in the United States is an indisputably male-dominated profession, particularly in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). However, research has shown that female officers can have a positive impact on communities and the overall performance of a law enforcement department. For example, female officers are less likely to have to face allegations of excessive force and can reduce the use of force among other officers in the department.

Law enforcement in the U.S.

The number of law enforcement officers in the United States has fluctuated over the years and, after hitting a low in 2013, is on the upswing again. Despite the violent crime rate in the U.S. being much lower than its high point in the 1990s, the majority of Americans report being dissatisfied with national crime control and reduction policies.