NCJ Number
215037
Journal
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2006 Pages: 23-32
Date Published
2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study surveyed 18 police agencies in Texas regarding the psychological protocols used for their recruit screening process.
Abstract
The survey results revealed that a wide variety of psychological protocols were being used across Texas police agencies, with only minor commonalities. It is recommended that Texas agencies choose a couple of the well-recognized psychological tests designed for law enforcement purposes and use these as the focus of psychological testing for recruits. Protocols should also be established for the content of the interviews. All the major police agencies reported using at least two types of psychological tests as well as an interview by a licensed psychologist. A total of 17 different psychological tests were used by the 18 agencies surveyed, with the most popular test being the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (revised) followed by the Sixteen Personality Factor. In terms of the psychological interview, psychologists reported using a wide variety of approaches and eliciting diverse information. Most psychologists used the results of the written psychological tests as the starting point for the interviews. The results bring up concern regarding the wide range of assessment instruments used and the lack of consensus content for the interview. Research methods involved telephone surveys of 18 Texas municipal agencies and the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding the types of psychological tests and the content of the psychological interview used to screen recruits. Future research is needed on the specific mental or personality disorders that should automatically disqualify a recruit from being a police officer. References, tables