NCJ Number
13709
Date Published
1973
Length
143 pages
Annotation
A COMPREHENSIVE AND CURRENT STATEMENT OF VARIOUS PERSONNEL PRACTICES AS THEY OPERATE IN POLICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE NATION.
Abstract
DERIVED FROM THE RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRES THAT WERE SENT TO ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES EMPLOYING AT LEAST FIFTY SWORN PERSONNEL, THIS SURVEY IS PRESENTED AS FOUR SEPARATE ANALYSES. THE FIRST ANALYSIS IS ESSENTIALLY A REPORT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SURVEY PROCEDURES. THE SECOND ANALYSIS PROCEEDS FROM THE VIEWPOINT THAT A COMMON THREAD EXISTS IN ALL POLICE WORK AND THAT IT IS USEFUL AND IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD AS A WHOLE. THE THIRD AND FOURTH ANALYSES FOCUS ON THE TYPE OF AGENCY AND THE SIZE OF MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS AS IMPORTANT MODIFIERS OF THE COLLECTED DATA. IN ADDITION, THIS DOCUMENT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR A DEPARTMENT TO COMPARE ITS OWN PRACTICES ON SUCH ISSUES AS SALARY, SELECTION REQUIREMENTS, TENURE, AND PROBATION WITH THOSE OF SIMILAR AGENCIES. WHILE THE DATA ARE DESCRIPTIVE OF SITUATIONS AT ONE POINT IN TIME (1973), THEY DO PROVIDE SOME INSIGHTS INTO PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT TRENDS AS AGENCIES RESPOND TO CHANGING EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND JOB REQUIREMENTS. SPECIFIC SECTIONS DISCUSS THE EXTENT AND PATTERN OF EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALE AND MINORITY PERSONNEL. OTHER AREAS OF IMPORTANCE INCLUDE RECRUITMENT, PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL, LATERAL TRANSFER. A COPY OF THE FIFTY ITEM QUESTIONNAIRE IS INCLUDED TO FACILITATE COMPREHENSION OF THE RESPONSES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)