U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Entry-Level Police Selection: The Assessment Center Is an Alternative

NCJ Number
136409
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (1992) Pages: 41-52
Author(s)
J Pynes; H J Bernardin
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The utility of an assessment center for the selection of entry-level police officers was examined in a sample of 275 candidates assessed in a southeastern city over the 1982-1986 period.
Abstract
The assessment center successfully predicted both training academy and on-the-job performance. The predictive validities of the assessment center ratings were compared to the predictive validities of a paper-and-pencil cognitive ability test. The cognitive ability test outpredicted the assessment center ratings for training academy performance, but the assessment center ratings outpredicted the cognitive ability test for on-the-job performance. Assuming a selection rate of 150 candidates for the cognitive ability test, there would have been an adverse impact against the black and Hispanic candidates. Selection based on the assessment center results would have eliminated the adverse impact against Hispanics and increased the percentage of blacks who were selected. Assessment centers emerge as a viable alternative for selecting police officers despite the costs associated with implementation. 1 figure, 2 tables, and 41 references (Author abstract modified)