NCJ Number
125371
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 176-182
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
One of the many trends in the movement toward improving the quality of law enforcement in the United States has been the use of psychological tests and screening devices in the selection of law enforcement personnel.
Abstract
For many reasons, including the threat of civil litigation, many police administrators have attempted to minimize the possibility of inappropriate, violent, abusive, or dishonest police behavior by having police candidates undergo some form of psychological testing before they are hired. In addition, some states have passed laws requiring the psychological screening of law enforcement personnel at the entry level. In spite of its growing popularity, however, serious questions must be raised as to the value and even the ethics of such screening as it is typically performed in police departments across the nation. Research on the validity of pre-employment testing for entry-level selection typically uses job performance or academy performance as the criterion. 35 references. (Author abstract modified)