NCJ Number
83030
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Urban League representatives in Westchester County, N.Y., discuss the activities and accomplishments of the county branch in enhancing minority recruitment in law enforcement and outline the obstacles faced in implementing Urban League recruitment goals, with attention to jurisdictional conflicts.
Abstract
The county's Urban League has established tutoring classes in civil service test taking, particularly for local fire departments, and has submitted numerous applicants to police and corrections positions. It had particular success in placing a minority applicant at the head of the Victim-Witness Liaison Office, due, in part, to cooperation with the local district attorney's office which informed the Urban League of the job opening. Generally, criminal justice agencies have cooperated with Urban League recruitment efforts, although the existence of 46 political subdivisions in the county has impeded cooperation among jurisdictions. To circumvent this obstacle, the Urban League has concentrated its efforts in areas with the highest minority populations, such as Yonkers and New Rochelle. The Urban League has also had difficulty in finding eligible applicants and positions for them and in encouraging applicants to be patient as test results often take time. Most successful referrals have been women; 34 minority applicants were referred to police departments and 11 to probation and parole agencies. A 15-minute slide-show presentation (slides not shown on film) gives an overview of the Urban League's facilities, clients, and staff in the county. The Law Enforcement Minority Manpower Project is also mentioned.