Correctional Facilities Management Education and Training

Use a multi-faceted approach for correctional facilities staff training

By Casey Holley
Correctional facilities have to make staff and inmate safety a top priority. One way they do this is to require that all staff members, including management, participate in various levels of training.

Finding a combination of programs for correctional facilities that meets every need can prove to be a challenge. A good rule of thumb to follow is to provide one level of training higher than your security risk level. For example, a medium security prison should implement an education program geared toward a maximum security prison. Consider these suggestions to help you choose the most appropriate correctional facilities training for your institution:

1. Get your institute, and your entire staff, accredited.

2. Accept applicants that successfully completed a correctional facilities training course.

3. Require your staff to take refresher courses.

 

Participate in credentialing programs for correctional facilities

Many correctional facilities, including Georgia correctional facilities, require that officers pass an accreditation exam. When you participate in these programs, you will have classroom instruction, hands on activities and an exam at the end. Programs range from five hours to two weeks, depending on the certification required.
Try: The American Jail Association offers instruction in a classroom setting to help jail administrators and correctional officers earn credentials that are transferable to a varied selection of facilities, including Ohio correctional facilities. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a federal program designed to help all correctional facilities comply with federal standards. One of these programs is the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program, which applies to inmate made goods and federal guidelines for inmate work. Any correctional facilities can apply for these programs including Michigan correctional facilities and Florida correctional facilities.

Take advantage off site programs for correctional facilities

Many colleges, universities and other training institutions offer in depth training programs for correctional officers and managers. These programs usually last anywhere from a month to four years, depending on the specific training you need. While most institutions will readily hire people with degrees or certificates from these programs, some systems, including Minnesota correctional facilities, require you to take an in house training course prior to formally offering you a job.
Try: Pierce College and National Jail Academy both offer off site correctional facilities management education and training programs. While these programs don’t automatically guarantee credentialing, they do offer basic instructions to help ease the transition into life as a correctional manager. Regardless of the location where you want to work, these programs can give you a sound foundation for your duties.

Consider on site refresher programs for correctional facilities

Some correctional facilities, such as large Illinois correctional facilities, find that it is easier to train staff in the facility. On the job refresher courses are one way to do this. When you participate in an on site course, you can expect the majority of the course to be in a lecture setting, followed by some institution specific training. These courses usually last one day to one week and may involve multiple sessions per day.
Try: You can hire Nabor Technical Enterprises to come to your jail and present refresher courses and seminars on a myriad of subjects. This company has trainers that will travel anywhere in the United States, including to Florida correctional facilities and California correctional facilities. National Institute of Corrections offers DVDs and satellite training programs that you can use at your convenience to train your correctional officers and management staff.

 

  • Federal correctional facilities and privately run correctional facilities usually require a formal degree in addition to in house training for all the management staff.