NCJ Number
132393
Journal
American Jails Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (September/October 1990) Pages: 70-75
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The jail administration in McLean County (Ill.) in addition to training officers in their assigned duties provides personality assessment training.
Abstract
A battery of personality measures is administered to all persons who apply for a jail officer's position. The first test, a personality type indicator, serves as the basis on which the future jail officers' personality profiles are built. It measures extroverted and introverted characteristics, differences in perceptions, decision makings, and processes used in dealing with the outer world. The second test, the personality factor questionnaire, is designed to measure 16 personality factors on a scale of 1 to 10. The third test is a personal value measure and the final test, in an open-ended questionnaire format, assesses job perception and reasons for choosing a corrections officer profession. When interviewing applicants, the Merit Board makes minimal use of the test information, partly because of a lack of understanding the test scores. Primarily it uses the scores to certify that the applicant completed the entire application process and is eligible for interviews. On the other hand, the departmental interviewing board makes extensive use of the test scores. The administrators, supervisors, and jail officers all feel the use of personality characteristics results leads to a positive interaction among the jail employees. 8 notes