FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, WOMEN WERE BARRED FROM BECOMING DECISIONMAKERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DUE TO THE LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP OF MEN, LACK OF EDUCATION, AND INABILITY TO VOTE OR HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE. HOWEVER, WHEN WOMEN BECAME DECISIONMAKERS, THEY ALSO BECAME THE FOCUS OF PREJUDICE AND SUSPICIONS. OPPONENTS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT HOME AND CHILDREN WOULD SUFFER FROM WOMEN'S INDEPENDENCE; DOUBTS ARE CAST ON WOMEN'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BECAUSE OF WHAT IS SEEN AS THEIR SEXUAL INSECURITY AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF MALE CRIMINALITY. TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN CRIMINAL POLICY DECISIONMAKING, LEGISLATION ON THE EQUALITY OF THE SEXES SHOULD BE PROMOTED, AS WELL AS ADEQUATE EDUCATION, ADDITIONAL TRAINING, AND SPECIALIZATION AFTER STUDY. THE IMPACT OF INCREASING NUMBERS OF WOMEN HOLDING DECISIONMAKING POSITIONS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD BE RELATIVELY MINOR, BECAUSE A WOMAN TENDS TO ADAPT HERSELF TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED BELIEFS AND TRADITIONAL OPINIONS AND TO CONFORM TO MALE COLLEAGUES. ALTHOUGH THE RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS WITH FEMALE DECISIONMAKERS CONCERNING DISCRIMINATION WERE INCONCLUSIVE, MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS CONSIDERED SEXUAL INEQUALITY TO BE PERVASIVE IN SOCIETY. WOMEN, ESPECIALLY IN DECISIONMAKING POSITIONS, ARE STILL MARGINAL PEOPLE, LIVING IN TWO SEPARATE GROUPS AND SHARING THE CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF BOTH. BECAUSE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR DIVIDING THE SEXES IS UNDOUBTABLY THE FAMILY ROLE THAT WOMEN HAVE IN FINNISH CULTURE, THE MOST REALISTIC REFORMS WILL PROBABLY BE ACHIEVED BY INCREASING DAY CARE SERVICES AND MATERNITY LEAVES. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)