Law Enforcement Recruit Training at the State Level: An Evaluation

Abstract

Statewide recruit training programs supplement agency training by providing equal access for all law enforcement personnel to the latest methods and technologies and by increasing the likelihood of uniform practices across diverse communities. This study is based on an assessment survey of local, county, and state law enforcement agency recruits who participated in the South Dakota Law Enforcement Training Basic Certification Course from 1996 to 1998. Recruit evaluations of training in the areas of criminal procedure, traffic control, and nontraditional police responsibilities were assessed. Evaluations of training in criminal procedure were highest, followed by assessments of training in traffic control. Recruits rated their training in nontraditional areas of police work lowest of all. A multivariate analysis of factors explaining their evaluations indicated that recruits from larger departments were less positive in evaluations of their training. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for law enforcement training and training evaluation.