NCJ Number
125479
Date Published
1990
Length
301 pages
Annotation
This book discusses the history, selection, and tasks of the modern police psychologist.
Abstract
A review of police psychology "then and now" includes a brief history of the role of psychologists in policing, a sampling of programs, and a description of the development of a program. A chapter on the selection of the police psychologist profiles recommend education, training, and organizational affiliations. Personality characteristics are also discussed. Guidelines for establishing the office of the police psychologist include model position descriptions, budgeting guidelines, and program administration suggestions. A series of chapters describes the various tasks of the police psychologist. A discussion of the psychologist's involvement in personnel selection focuses on psychological screening for both recruit applicants and the selection of existing personnel for special assignments. Separate chapters address the following tasks of the police psychologist: treatment services for police officers, administrative consultation services, operational consultation services, and training and education. The ethics of the police psychologist and problems of litigation are also discussed, followed by a concluding discussion of the future of police psychology. 432-item bibliography, author index, subject index.