INVESTIGATION OF A METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THE HIGH-RISK POLICE APPLICANT - AN ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF THE STUDY, ITS CONCLUSIONS AND ITS APPLICATION BASED ON AVAILABLE DATA

• NCJ Number: 15063
• Author(s): W K HUNTER; J M NEWMAN
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 31 pages
• Grant Number(s): 0156
• Sponsoring Agency: California Council on Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: Education Research Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ANALYSIS OF A POLICE SELECTION TECHNIQUE WHICH ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY, BEFORE HIRE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE FORCE VOLUNTARILY OR FOR IMPROPER CONDUCT.

Abstract

THE RESEARCHER, A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGIST, CONSTRUCTED A SCREENING DEVICE TO ELIMINATE CANDIDATES WITH UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS. THE SCREENING INVOLVES DEFINING THREE DISTINCT GROUPS OF POLICE OFFICERS, AND PREDICTING, BEFORE HIRE, INTO WHICH OF THESE GROUPS A CANDIDATE WILL FALL. 'CURRENTS' ARE THOSE OFFICERS WHO WILL REMAIN WITH THE FORCE A MINIMUM OF SEVEN YEARS. 'FAILURES' ARE DEFINED AS UNSUCCESSFUL POLICE OFFICERS WHO WILL BE SEPARATED FOR CAUSE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS AND BE INELIGIBLE FOR REHIRE. POLICE RECRUITS CLASSIFIED AS 'NON-FAILURES' ARE THOSE WHO, WITHIN SEVEN YEARS, WILL RESIGN VOLUNTARILY AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR REHIRE. PREDICTIONS WERE BASED ON AN EVALUATION OF THE BACKGROUND FACTORS RELATING TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE. THE PREDICTIVE DEVICES (THE EQUATIONS) USED FOR SEVERAL OF THE 14 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE RESEARCHER'S STUDY ARE COMPARED. AN ANALYSIS FOR OAKLAND IN PARTICULAR IS MADE TO SHOW WHICH OF THE FACTORS HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE ON THE PREDICTIONS AND ACCURACY OF THE RESULTS. EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT THE RESULTS OF THE RESEARCHER'S STUDY SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED. THE REASONS FOR THIS DECISION ARE DETAILED IN THIS REPORT. OAKLAND, LOS ANGELES, SAN JOSE