Issues in Private Security

The private security industry is as large as the public police but little regulated. Major problems include abuse of authority, dishonest or poor business practice, nonreporting of crimes, and lack of public complaint channels. Directors and managers of both contract and in-house security forces should be licensed and employees registered by the states, contingent on set qualifications, with renewal every 2 or 3 years. States should require certified training of at least 120 hours for both full- and part-time personnel, tailored to job requirements, with at least 2 days' retraining yearly. Federal funds might well develop the curricula, materials, and methodology. Firearms training, now rare, should be mandatory for all armed guards; concealed weapons forbidden; and company guns remain on company property during guards' off-duty hours. Above all, regulatory agencies should have resources enough to screen and monitor licensees and registrants and to detect and cope with violations. (Based on R-869 through R-873. An invited presentation to the first meeting of the LEAA-sponsored Private Security Task Force of the National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, April 1975.)