POLICE SELECTION STANDARDS AND PROCESSES IN OHIO - AN ASSESSMENT

• NCJ Number: 35154
• Author(s): J A CONSER; R D THOMPSON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 323 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-BC-A01-5580
• Sponsoring Agency: Ohio Dept of Economic and Community Development; Youngstown State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STATE-OF-THE-ART REVIEW OF ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION PRACTICES, AND MANDATED MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR DISCRIMINATORY EFFECTS AND JOB RELATEDNESS.

Abstract

THIS STUDY INVOLVED A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON SELECTION STANDARDS, A PILOT SURVEY OF ELEVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY OF ALL OHIO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, AND INTERVIEWS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, ELECTED STATE REPRESENTATIVES, AND NON-POLICE CONSULTANTS. THIS REPORT COVERS THE FOLLOWING AREAS: STATE MANDATED MINIMUM SELECTION STANDARDS, LEGAL ASPECTS OF POLICE ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS, PERSONNEL AND RELATED FUNCTIONS (SALARY, MANPOWER, CIVIL SERVICE, ETC.), THE SELECTION SEQUENCE, RECRUITMENT AND APPLICATION, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, APTITUDE AND CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS, RANKING CANDIDATES, AND TRAINING AND PROBATION. SOME OF THE MAJOR SURVEY FINDINGS WERE THAT FEMALES COMPRISED ONLY 1.6 PERCENT OF FULL-TIME SWORN PERSONNEL IN THE 241 JURISDICTIONS RESPONDING TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE, 81 PERCENT OF THE JURISDICTIONS HAD MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS, 62 PERCENT UTILIZED WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS IN THE SELECTION PROCESS, 89 PERCENT INDICATED CITIZENSHIP AS AN EMPLOYMENT, AND 71 PERCENT INDICATED THAT APPLICANTS HAD TO MEET A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT. ONLY FIVE PERCENT OF THE RESPONDING AGENCIES INDICATED THAT THEY CONSIDERED COMPENSATING FACTORS IN LIEU OF MEETING OTHER REQUIREMENTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT OHIO IS IN NEED OF A NUMBER OF MANDATED MINIMUM SELECTION STANDARDS TO INSURE A MINIMUM QUALIFICATION LEVEL OF ALL POLICE PERSONNEL. SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE ON THE DEVELOPMENT, ENACTMENT, AND FOCUS OF STANDARDS, ENFORCEMENT, HIGHER STANDARDS, THE SELECTION PROCESS, AND BASIC TRAINING. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS A COPY OF THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE, A LIST OF THE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES, SELECTED STATUTES FROM STATES WITH MINIMUM SELECTION STANDARDS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE POLYGRAPH, AND SUPPLEMENTAL AND/OR SUPPORTING STUDY DATA. A THIRTEEN-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED.