NCJ Number
113577
Date Published
1988
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Based upon interviews and surveys, this report by Maine's Joint Standing Committee on Legal Affairs assesses Maine's current law enforcement training program and recommends improvements.
Abstract
The report recommends that all law enforcement officers in the State have a basic familiarity with fundamental legal concepts and procedures before being empowered to make arrests or carry firearms. This requires completion of a preservice training course roughly equivalent to the current 100-hour reserve officer training course. The Board of Trustees for the Maine Criminal Justice Academy should be responsible for developing and providing the course throughout the State. The core curriculum requirements must be completed within 6 months of a recruit's starting work, as a condition of continued certification. The report also recommends that all law enforcement officers complete at least 20 hours of inservice training per year. Remaining funds from a 10-percent surcharge on all fines, penalties, and forfeitures should be used to fund these additional training requirements and to reimburse municipalities for training costs. Appendixes contain Maine training legislation from the 113th Legislature, proposed training legislation, survey results, and estimates of the costs of the recommendations.