NCJ Number
131008
Journal
Kriminalist Volume: 22 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 354-355
Date Published
1990
Length
2 pages
Annotation
The article describes the training of criminal investigators in the former German Democratic Republic and suggests reforms to suit their new status in a united Germany.
Abstract
To be eligible for a career as a criminal investigator, an East German applicant had to have completed high school or its equivalent, have served in the military, have the right political convictions and belong to the right political organizations, and show high physical and mental stamina. As a rule, future criminal investigators had to start as all-around police officers: they completed the same 6-month basic training, 6 months as a trainee at a police station, and 1 year as a local police officer. Prospective criminal investigators then studied two years at a special police academy and spent one year of practical training under the guidance of a senior investigator. In the future, this lengthy and politically oriented training should be adjusted to the West German training to arrive at a more sophisticated and streamlined career path. Already, the East German states have been given greater independence in deciding on training structure and selection of applicants. This autonomy creates the opportunity for a more democratic police training which will foster a trust between investigators and the population.