Police & Public Safety Psychology(PPSP)COUNCIL OF ORGANIZATIONS IN POLICE PSYCHOLOGY (COPP)NOVEMBER 2013

PREPARED BY: JOANNE BREWSTER, PH.D., ABPP & DAVE COREY, PH.D., ABPP

DefinitionPolice & Public Safety Psychology is concerned with assisting law enforcement and other public safety personnel and agencies in carrying out their missions and societal functions with optimal effectiveness, safety, health, and conformity to laws and ethics. It consists of the application of the science and profession of psychology in four domains of practice: assessment, clinical intervention, operational support, and organizational consulting.

Brief History of Police & Public Safety PsychologyOrigins of the fieldPsychology and Police Selection1916 Louis TermanMeasured IQ in police officers1922 Louis ThurstoneStressed importance of intelligence in hiring police officers

Brief History of PPSP1968 Presidents Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of JusticeRecommended use of psychological tests in selection of police to:Screen-out inappropriate candidatesSelect most appropriate candidates

Brief History of PPSPPolice psychology expanded into other areas in the 1960s, including recognition of Stresses related to police work and need for mental health services for officersNeed for training of officers in psychological principles related to their work1972 Dr. Martin Reiser became the first full-time U.S. police psychologist in a major agency (Los Angeles Police Department)

PPSP TodayFocused on 4 Domains of Psychological Services to Law EnforcementAssessmentInterventionOperational SupportOrganizational Consulting

Assessment DomainExamples:Preemployment psychological evaluations of job candidatesPsychological fitness-for-duty evaluations of working police officersEvaluations for high-risk assignmentsTest development

Intervention DomainExamples:Employee assistance counselingIndividual, group, couple, and family therapy or counselingCritical incident debriefingWellness programsMental attitude preparation

Operational Support DomainExamples:Criminal profilingPsychological autopsyCrisis and hostage negotiationThreat assessment

Organizational Consulting DomainExamples:Organizational developmentExecutive, management, and supervisor consultationMediationDevelopment of performance appraisal systems

Recent Milestones in PPSP2011 American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) recognized PPSP as a specialtyBoard certification in PPSP now possible2013 American Psychological Association recognized PPSP as a specialty

Training in PPSPBecoming a Police & Public Safety psychologist requires advanced education and trainingPh.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical or Counseling Psychology (licensure typically required)Specialized coursework/continuing education in PPSPExperience working with police

Careers in PPSPEmployment OpportunitiesResearch (colleges, universities, government, private agencies)In-house psychologist at a law enforcement agency (usually large agencies like NYPD, LAPD, Dallas PD, Miami-Dade PD, etc.)Independent consultant to a law enforcement agency (most common)

Professional OrganizationsAmerican Psychological Association Division 18: Police & Public Safety Sectionhttp://www.apadivisions.org/division-18/sections/police/index.aspx Society for Police & Criminal Psychology (SPCP)http://psychweb.cisat.jmu.edu/spcp/International Association of Chiefs of Police-Police Psychological Services Section (IACPPPSS)http://www.theiacp.org/psych_services_section/

Further Information on PPSPProfessional JournalsPsychological Services (Division 18)Journal of Police & Criminal Psychology (Society for Police & Criminal Psychology)

Current Issues in PPSPIn process of developing PPSP-specific doctoral training programs & internships