ABSTRACT

Throughout the history of American law enforcement, there has been a requirement to screen applicants for the characteristics and behaviors of service, dedication, and integrity. Born from heated discussions of the causes of police corruption that have continued since the early nineteenth century, the need for law enforcement personnel who are devoid of corrupt behaviors is self-evident.1 There is unilateral agreement that the screening processes of law enforcement applicants must include disqualifying parameters that include those who have arrest records and poor employment histories.2 While the issue of police corruption and abuse of power had been an ongoing discussion as evidenced by the Wickersham Report and the Report on Lawlessness in Law Enforcement since the early twentieth century, little was accomplished until the mid-twentieth century at the dawn of the civil rights movement.3 The most sweeping changes began to occur as a result of the œndings of the report of the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice (1967) that among other recommendations advised law enforcement to make signiœcant changes to their selection processes.4 This is a direct result of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and the precursor of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) all put in motion the methods to improve police effectiveness in controlling crime and improving community relations.5