NCJ Number
136645
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1992) Pages: 59,61-67
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Police agencies will have difficulty complying with the ambiguities in interpretation and application of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 due to the specialized requirements and qualifications inherent in law enforcement.
Abstract
The law aims to protect disabled individuals from discrimination in employment ranging from the prohibition of specific requirements for initial employment to the requirement that public buildings, workplaces, and facilities be modified to provide access to disabled individuals. Countless State and local law enforcement agencies may inadvertently and unintentionally be in violation of the law when it becomes effective as a result of what are considered, by most police agencies, to be routine and acceptable pre-employment, preliminary screening procedures. Therefore, administrators and officials seeking specific solutions should consult an attorney to discuss specific areas of concern and potential negative litigation. In addition, they should establish a working relationship with the local Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Compliance Officer to clarify their interpretation of EEOC regulations in given situations and to initiate contact before a confrontational situation relating to an official investigation occurs.