March 2020
·
112 Reads
Law enforcement assessment is a highly specialized area within the field of psychology. The psychologist’s main responsibilities within this domain are twofold: to assess potential police officer candidates and to assess and support officers during their careers. Given the nature of police work, trauma assessments are an integral component of this work. Officers are routinely exposed to life-threatening experiences, as well as vicarious trauma. Furthermore, they may have personal trauma histories. While these experiences may increase their empathy and ability to effectively respond to difficult situations, it can also be detrimental to their objectivity and ability to self-regulate and result in use of maladaptive coping skills. The following chapter describes the nature and function of pre-employment and fitness-for-duty evaluations, as well as best practices for conducting such evaluations. Furthermore, an in-depth discussion on the nature of trauma within law enforcement is provided, along with areas for consideration. In order to provide further context, there is an extensive discussion on the environment of police culture as it contributes to the experience of trauma. Finally, case examples, recommendations, and resources are provided.