NCJ Number
174786
Journal
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 1997 Pages: 7-12
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A survey of 25 randomly selected police agencies represented at the most recent FBI World Conference on Police Psychology gathered information on their General Orders (GOs) or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to psychological services and were used to develop a composite general order model for a behavioral science unit.
Abstract
The survey was prompted by the recognition of the competing rationales for the inclusion and exclusion of GOs and SOPs for such services in a law enforcement agency. Benefits can include an increase in the clarity of provided services and the provision of a mechanism to gauge evolving services. Inflexibility is cited as the main negative aspect of GOs and SOPs. The survey received responses from 19 agencies. Six of the agencies had SOPs or GOs specifically for behavioral science units or psychological service units. A model general order tailored for a mid-sized agency with an in-house psychologist would cover the following topics: (1) purpose, (2) rules and procedures, (3) organizational services such as evaluations of fitness for duty and pre-employment psychological evaluations, (4) examinations for candidates for SWAT units, (5) examinations of candidates for the emergency services team, (6) other examinations, and (7) traumatic incident counseling. 2 references (Author abstract modified)