NCJ Number
83026
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Members of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Minority Manpower Project discuss general conditions in the State and specific efforts undertaken by their project.
Abstract
In 1973, there were no black Kentucky police or correctional officers and few blacks were in criminal justice education programs. To overcome a negative attitude toward law enforcement on the part of minority individuals, the project first gained support from two junior colleges and then developed a career opportunities program in Lexington and Louisville high schools. Initial recruitment efforts concentrated on the Louisville police department. The Kentucky project found that State and agency cooperation with minority recruitment must be demanded in terms of the legislative mandate for equal opportunity and offers of assistance in meeting the requirements. The Kentucky program advanced through three phases. First, lists of qualified applicants and of target agencies were readied; second, advertising and outreach sought qualified candidates for open positions. The final, followup phase, required maintaining contact with the agency and applicants, negotiating misunderstandings between them, and cultivating an informed minority population. Project staff have evolved specialties for recruiting in specific areas, i.e., corrections, State troopers, etc. Problems encountered include relocation, ex-offender placement, and unemployment of 18 to 20 year olds, who constitute the target group of potential candidates but are most at risk of having police records by the time they qualify for law enforcement jobs. Other obstacles include discriminatory attitudes among law enforcement personnel and discriminatory requirements such as height and physical agility tests. A need exists for a black police officers' association.