As you have been learning, part of the job of forensic psychology professionals working in the police subspecialty can be the assessment of candidates for law enforcement positions. Indeed, the evaluation of an officer’s “fitness-for-duty” can be a familiar task. More recently, they have participated in the selection and training of special units such as SWAT, hostage negotiations teams, tactical response teams, and even members within these teams such as snipers, negotiators, and team leaders. And, while it may seem easy to identify someone who would be a good candidate for police work, there are a variety of issues that must be considered. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has influenced the recruitment and selection of law enforcement personnel. In this Application, you explore how ADA is relevant to the work that forensic psychology professionals working in the police subspecialty do in the area of assessment and selection of prospective law enforcement personnel.

To prepare for this assignment:

Review Chapter 2 in Introduction to Forensic Psychology, paying particular attention to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and how it affects the selection of law enforcement employees.
Review the article “The Americans with Disabilities Act and How It Affects Psychologists,” located in this week’s Learning Resources. Focus on law, various key concepts, and equal opportunities in the areas of employment.
Review this week’s DVD program, “Police Psychology,” and think about the role of forensic psychology professionals working in the police subspecialty in the recruitment and screening of law enforcement personnel.
Think about the roles and responsibilities of forensic psychology professionals working in the police subspecialty in screening prospective police personnel according to ADA standards and requirements.
Consider whether the Americans with Disabilities Act is relevant for forensic psychology professionals working in the police subspecialty in the selection of police officers and why.
Conduct an Internet search and search the Walden Library for articles that relate to specific disabilities that you believe may or may not be adaptable for employment in law enforcement.

Explain how and why the ADA is relevant to forensic psychology professionals working in the police subspecialty in the screening and selection of police officers.
Support your response with information from the Learning Resources and with relevant research that you have found.