NCJ Number
127277
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 52 Issue: 7 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 72-75
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
As the demands of modern corrections become more complex, training programs for officers preparing to work in jail environments need to be improved. Despite the adoption in most States of basic jail training standards, the emphasis for jail training needs to be shifted from classroom instruction to more hands-on, practical training activities in jail operation skills.
Abstract
The best jail training programs are generally developed in large systems which have adequate resources to establish full-service academies. Two programs, in Georgia and Kansas, also demonstrate the components of effective jail training programs. The program run in DeKalb County, Georgia, includes classroom coursework, standardized on-the-job training, and a comprehensive course during each officer's 6-month probationary period. The program requires managerial commitment and demonstrates an understanding of the long-range value of effective training. In Barton County and Pawnee County, Kansas, the jail training course provides 60 hours of instruction conducted in the jails, where participants can associate learning experiences with actual operational situations. Future trends include an increased emphasis on transition training to familiarize officers with new institutions, expanded interpersonal communications training, specialized training for jail emergency response, and televised instruction.