Personal History Statement (PHS): Complete Law Enforcement Applicant Guide

Complete your Personal History Statement with accuracy, detail, and confidence.

This 36-page guide from BackgroundPrep.com walks you through organizing your records, reconstructing your history, and writing complete explanations before you submit your background packet.

Learn how to avoid missing information, conflicting dates, vague answers, and other preventable mistakes that can raise concerns during your background investigation.

Inside, you’ll find practical guidance covering:

• Building residence, education, and employment timelines

• Gathering supporting documents and verifying dates

• Reporting employment discipline, terminations, and prior agency applications

• Addressing driving, criminal, drug, alcohol, financial, and military history

• Completing relationship, social media, and other disclosure sections

• Writing clear explanations using a six-part method

• Comparing your PHS with previous applications and records

• Correcting errors or omissions after submission

• Preparing for the investigator’s review of your PHS

Includes 12 side-by-side examples comparing weak or incomplete disclosures with detailed, accountable explanations—and explaining why the differences matter. These fictional examples teach a method you can apply to your own truthful history.

You’ll also receive a final submission audit checklist, a master document checklist, a residence and employment timeline worksheet, and a disclosure inventory worksheet.

Designed for applicants completing their first PHS or preparing a new submission for another agency.

Digital PDF download. No physical product will be shipped. For personal use only.

Forms and disclosure requirements vary by agency. Always follow your hiring agency’s instructions. This guide does not guarantee employment or a particular hiring outcome.