QUALITY-CONTROL OF COMMUNITY CARE-TAKERS - A STUDY OF MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING IN A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT (FROM COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, 1976 BY JOHN MONAHAN - SEE NCJ-41350)

• NCJ Number: 41352
• Author(s): L B MCDONOUGH; J MONAHAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PAPER DESCRIBES A STUDY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING PROCEDURES FOR POLICE APPLICANTS IN A LARGE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THAT SERVES A COUNTY OF ABOUT 500,000 PEOPLE.

Abstract

METHODOLOGY FOR THE STUDY INCLUDED EMPLOYING SEVERAL MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING PROCEDURES, INCLUDING THE PSYCHIATRIC INTERVIEW, MANY PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS, AND SEVERAL BACKGROUND VARIABLES. A VARIETY OF RELEVANT CRITERION MEASURES INCLUDING SUPERVISOR RATINGS, PERSONNEL FILES, AND STATUS IN THE DEPARTMENT WERE USED. THE STUDY ALSO HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF EVALUATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PREDICTORS AND THE CRITERIA IN A MORE STATISTICALLY SOPHISTICATED MANNER THAN HAS BEEN THE CASE IN OTHER RESEARCH. FROM THIS STUDY, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT NO SCREENING PROCEDURE ALONE CAN PRESELECT 'GOOD' OR 'BAD' LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. ALTHOUGH MEN WITH CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY MEANS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS, IT IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ITSELF WHICH MUST DECIDE WHAT KIND OF MAN WOULD BE MOST SUITABLE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP