Statewide Police Psychology Program - Guidelines for Development (From Psychological Services for Law Enforcement, P 225-230, 1986, J Reese and H A Goldstein, eds. - See NCJ-104098)

• NCJ Number: 104111
• Author(s): J T Chandler
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/NCJRS; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-104098.

Annotation

This description of the development of police psychological services for the Illinois State police encompasses the selection of a staff psychologist, aspects of the psychological services program, and program growth.

Abstract

The police psychologist was selected in 1981 following a report by a departmental Psychological Services Committee. The psychologist established a Psychological Services Task Force, composed of representatives from a cross section of the force, to provide long-range planning and advice to the office of the police psychologist. The departmental directive on the work of the Office of Psychological Services is included in this paper and covers the program's purpose, policy, objectives, procedures, privacy and confidentiality, voluntary and mandatory participation, shootings and other traumatic incidents, emergency removal from duty, service priorities, reporting and records, and costs. The program has increased services and staff during its 3 years and has served more officers each year. Among the office's projects are the establishment of a Police Psychology Academy to train persons in police psychology and related mental health areas and the development of consultation services for police administrators. Suggestions are offered for developing a similar psychological service program in other State law enforcement agencies.