Personality Assessment Inventory as a Selection Device for Law Enforcement Personnel

• NCJ Number: 208886
• Journal: Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 2004 Pages: 23-29
• Author(s): William U. Weiss; Cary Rostow; Robert Davis; Emily DeCoster-Martin
• Editor(s): William U. Weiss
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study analyzed the potential utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) in the police selection process.

Abstract

Over the years the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has been used extensively in the selection of law enforcement personnel and has been found to be a useful tool in the screening process of police applicants and officers. A fairly new device in personality assessment is the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) which is an objective inventory of adult personality developed in 1991. The PAI is designed to assess the various psychopathological syndromes. Performance variables were collected on 800 officers who had taken the PAI prior to being hired. Matrix, a psychological assessment center, sent a follow-up questionnaire after the officer had been working for 1 year. An analysis was conducted assessing the categories of complaints, mistakes, misuse of equipment, and disciplinary actions. The analysis showed a significant effect in the data. The study demonstrates the potential utility of the PAI in the police selection process. References