NCJ Number
104146
Date Published
1986
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Objections are raised to the increasing emphasis on social skills and societal insight approaches to police selection and training.
Abstract
While such training is needed, it should not displace training in the law. Legal training is essential because it helps police deal with their roles in a decent fashion, fosters the achievement of instrumental police goals and provides guidelines for action in various situations where specific professional knowledge is needed. Too great an emphasis on social or psychological training suggests that something is wrong with the mental constitution of police officers, it fosters a negative self-image among officers, and it suggests that the basis of any problems are the result of individual shortcomings. In addition, such training places responsibilities on the police for social work and conflict resolution roles that more rightly belong to the community in general, rather than to law enforcement. Social and psychological training of police officers is not a panacea for problems that arise more from structure, culture, policy, leadership, and interaction than from the individual. Such education and training should focus on producing officers who strive to maintain a high level of decency and carefulness and who react to the emotions of the public with real concern.