Background investigations can help a department avoid damaging legal actions as well as give an indication of an individual's competence, motivation, and personal ethics. Derogatory information revealed about a law enforcement officer can even jeopardize criminal cases in which he participated. The investigation process begins with a preliminary interview between the agency's personnel director and the candidate. The applicant must then complete a background investigation booklet and provide photographs and fingerprints. The investigation should focus on the applicant's education, employment, credit, criminal history, driving record, and military history; in addition, the investigating officer should contact the applicant's spouse. Other pre-employment considerations might include a polygraph test and a test of the applicant's writing ability. The final interview can be used to clear up any questions arising from the background investigation. 5 notes