Field Training for Police Officers - State of the Art

• NCJ Number: 102633
• Author(s): M S McCampbell
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 7 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: National Institute of Justice Research in Brief, November 1986

Annotation

To examine the characteristics and impact of field training programs for police officers, a mail survey was conducted of 588 randomly selected State and local agencies. In addition, site visits were conducted in California, Virginia, Arizona, and Florida.

Abstract

Of the 288 responding agencies (49 percent return rate), 64 percent had field training programs, with most programs less than 10 years old. Those not having programs reported using on-the-job training with a senior officer with or without additional classroom training. The major reasons for implementing field training programs were perceived personnel problems and the need to improve recruit training. Major benefits of the programs cited included standardization of training, improved documentation of recruit performance, and improved retention decisionmaking. Common characteristics of programs included identifiable training phases, specially trained trainers, and standardized training and evaluation techniques. The programs at the four sites visited also shared these characteristics, although they show differences in duration, format, and skills emphasized. Based on these findings, recommendations are presented for police departments wishing to implement new or improved existing field training programs. These focus on the need for written program policies, regular recruit and program evaluation, and the selection and training of field training officers. 6-item bibliography and list of additional research reports.