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TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER STANDARDS AND EDUCATION - BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR'S MANUAL - A GUIDE TO THE EVALUATION OF MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER APPLICANTS

NCJ Number
53322
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1977
Length
137 pages
Annotation
THIS MANUAL PRESENTS STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES FOR INVESTIGATING THE BACKGROUND OF MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER APPLICANTS. IT WAS PREPARED FOR THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Abstract
SPECIFIC PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CAPABILITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF POLICE OFFICERS ENCOMPASS PHYSICAL ABILITIES, WRITING SKILLS, READING SKILLS, SITUATIONAL REASONING ABILITY, SELF-CONTROL, ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS, INTEGRITY, INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, INITIATIVE, DEPENDABILITY, AND APPEARANCE. THE MANUAL IS ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO THREE MAJOR SECTIONS: (1) GENERAL LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS IN BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS (CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, METHODS OF TEST VALIDATION, FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT CASES INVOLVING BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS, AND THE JOB-RELATEDNESS OF BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS); (2) BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS (PROCEDURES AND AREAS TO BE INVESTIGATED, SUCH AS WORK HISTORY, UNEMPLOYMENT RECORD, MILITARY RECORD, EDUCATIONAL HISTORY, CRIMINAL RECORD, TRAFFIC RECORD, MARITAL HISTORY AND FAMILY RELATIONS, FINANCIAL HISTORY, MEDICAL HISTORY, EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, THE USE OF NARCOTICS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, THE USE OF ALCOHOL, FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES AND RELATIVES, MEMBERSHIPS IN GROUPS AND ASSOCIATIONS, AND GENERAL REPUTATION); AND (3) EVALUATION OF BACKGROUND EVIDENCE (JOB-RELATEDNESS OF EVALUATION, GUIDELINES FOR THE EVALUATION OF APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS BASED ON PRIOR CONDUCT, GENERAL EVALUATION GUIDELINES, SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OR PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, AND DUE PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON AND FORMS FOR USE IN BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS ARE APPENDED. (DEP)