Civil Rights and Criminal Justice: Primer on Sexual Harassment

This Research in Action examines sexual harassment—a form of sexual discrimination that is in the forefront of the American consciousness. Although the issue of sexual harassment is one that touches all employers, its relevance to law enforcement agencies extends beyond the concerns associated with more traditional settings. Police and corrections have their share of claims, and exposure to liability exists not only for the conduct of employees but in the treatment of inmates, persons in custody or under supervision, and others having reason to interact with criminal justice professionals as well. The intersection between sexual harassment and criminal justice can best be seen within a legal context. What is sexual harassment? How does this form of discrimination happen in the workplace? Finally, what can agencies do to limit their exposure to liability for claims of sexual harassment and to prevent it from happening within their ranks?