NCJ Number
132259
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (1991) Pages: 47-58
Date Published
1991
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Following a brief synopsis of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the discussion addresses its potential impact on the workplace and proposes a methodology police administrators can use to ensure compliance with the Act.
Abstract
The ADA, which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities in all employment settings, will cause police agencies throughout the United States to adjust and, in some instances, completely overhaul their recruitment and selection procedures. Departments that fail to immediately develop and implement changes in their personnel policies by the time the Act becomes applicable will expose themselves to substantial liability. Factors that police departments can use to substantiate that selection criteria are representative of critical job functions and include the employer's judgment about which functions are essential, written job descriptions prepared prior to initiating the selection process, the amount of time devoted to pursuing the various activities or functions, the consequences of not requiring the incumbent to perform the task or function, past work experience of job incumbents, and the current work experience of incumbents in similar jobs. 7 references