Evaluating personnel
Evaluating personnel can be difficult in the criminal justice system. An employee interacts with both internal and external individuals, so their impact is large.
How can a department/supervisor ensure that they are effectively evaluating an employee? What measures should be used (arrests, supervisor evaluations, citizen complaints, etc.)? Are there problems with any of these measures?
Research online. Find an example of a performance evaluation form for a police department employee. Do you feel that this form adequately measures an employee’s performance?
Sample Answer
Effectively Evaluating Personnel in the Criminal Justice System:
Evaluating performance in the criminal justice system, particularly for police officers, presents unique challenges due to the complex nature of their interactions with internal and external stakeholders. To ensure fair and effective evaluations, consider these factors:
Measures for Evaluation:
- Quantitative Measures:
- Arrests and citations: While useful, relying solely on quantitative measures can fail to consider the context and quality of interactions.
- Calls for service: Analyzing response times and resolution effectiveness provides insights into service delivery.
- Commendations and complaints: These offer valuable perspectives but require careful consideration to avoid bias.
- Qualitative Measures:
- Supervisory evaluations: Regular observations and feedback on professionalism, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.