NCJ Number
62834
Date Published
1976
Length
67 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CALIFORNIA'S COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING (POST) IN INCREASING THE QUALITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERFORMANCE THROUGH TRAINING.
Abstract
POST'S MANDATED ROLE IN POLICE OFFICER TRAINING ENCOMPASSES SETTING TRAINING STANDARDS AND APPROVING TRAINING COURSES, AS WELL AS DISTRIBUTING TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR SUCH COURSES THROUGH THE PEACE OFFICERS' TRAINING FUND. PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR ASSESSING POST'S PERFORMANCE INCLUDED INTERVIEWS WITH KEY POST STAFF, REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF POST FILES AND DATA, AND INTERVIEWS WITH THE TRAINING OFFICERS OF 33 LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES EMPLOYING 53 PERCENT OF LOCAL OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. POST DOES NOT HAVE A LONG-RANGE TRAINING PROGRAM BASED ON THE PROJECTED TRAINING NEEDS OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; RATHER, IT RESPONDS TO THE REQUESTS OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS. THIS IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE SUBSTANTIAL UNDERUSE OF TRAINERS AND TRAINING RESOURCES. FURTHER, IN AREAS WHERE POST HAS DETERMINED THAT TRAINING IS NEEDED, THERE IS NO PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR PRODUCING THE OUTCOMES DESIRED. POST STAFF MEMBERS BELIEVE THAT IS MEASURED BY THE DEGREE TO WHICH TRAINING COURSES TEACH THE REQUIRED SKILLS. WHILE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY THEM, POST SHOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO DETERMINE THOSE JOB AREAS REQUIRING IMPROVED TRAINING. SOME PROCEDURE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IS NEEDED, AS A SYSTEMATIC EVALUATION PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING POLICE OFFICER TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS. OTHER SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE A STATEMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PEACE OFFICER EMPLOYMENT AND POST COURSE REIMBURSEMENT PLANS. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)