THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, CONDUCTED ON ALL PATROL OFFICER APPLICANTS IN CALIFORNIA, IS DESCRIBED AS AN UNRESTRAINED INQUIRY INTO ALL ASPECTS OF THE APPLICANT'S BACKGROUND. WHEN CONDUCTING SUCH INQUIRIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MUST COMPLY WITH FAIR EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PROTECTED GROUPS AND MUST KEEP THE JOB REQUIREMENTS IN MIND. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONDUCTED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT AN APPLICANT'S BEHAVIOR HISTORY IS IRREVOCABLY RELATED TO PEACE OFFICER JOB PERFORMANCE. IN LIGHT OF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, COURT RULINGS, AND CURRENT PRACTICES CONCERNING BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS, EACH TOPIC RELATING TO BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS WAS CONSIDERED FOR ITS JOB-RELATEDNESS (I.E. WHAT MIGHT AN INQUIRY INTO AN AREA OF THE APPLICANT'S HISTORY REVEAL ABOUT HIS FUTURE PERFORMANCE ON THE JOB) AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR ADVERSE IMPACT ON PROTECTED CLASSES. A STRATEGY CALLED 'PROCEDURAL JOB-RELATEDNESS' WAS APPLIED AND FOLLOWED THESE STEPS: (1) APPLICATION OF PROJECT DESIGN AND PROGRAM EVALUATION REVIEW TECHNIQUES (PERT); (2) GATHERING OF INFORMATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND A REVIEW OF EXISTING LITERATURE; (3) COMPILATION OF AREAS OF INQUIRY; (4) MEETING WITH INTEREST GROUPS; (5) ASSEMBLY OF THE DECISIONMAKING PANEL; (6) JOB ANALYSIS; (7) TESTING OF THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS AND MAKING REVISIONS ON THE BASIS OF THESE TESTS; (8) MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT; (9) TRAINING OF DECISIONMAKERS AND INTEREST GROUPS; (10) DECISIONMAKING ON AREAS OF INQUIRY; (11) DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION MANUAL; (12) TRIAL INVESTIGATION; (13) DEVELOPMENT OF A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION COURSE; (14) REVIEW PROCESS; AND (15) DISTRIBUTION OF STATEMENT AND MANUAL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT GUIDELINES RESULTING FROM THE STUDY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH AGENCY-ESTABLISHED STANDARDS, SHOULD AID IN MAKING INFORMED JUDGMENTS ABOUT THE ACCEPTABILITY OF APPLICANTS. APPENDICES ARE PROVIDED WHICH CONTAIN SAMPLES OF A PERT CHART, MAILOUT LETTER, ADVISOR LISTS, JOB DIMENSIONS, RESPONSE BOOKLET, INSTRUCTIONS, MANUAL, SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL, COURSE OUTLINE, AND COURSE CRITIQUE. CASES STUDIES ARE ALSO CITED. (JCP)