NCJ Number
185408
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 62 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2000 Pages: 100-103
Date Published
October 2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Training is one of the most crucial elements needed to operate a safe, secure, humane, and constitutional jail or prison system; the training division and training academy of the Denver Sheriff Department have several programs that are cost-effective.
Abstract
Setting a priority on what to teach is essential. Agencies should divide training topics into four groups: (1) mandatory or necessary; (2) important but not mandatory or immediately necessary; (3) wanted, but not really needed or important at this time; and (4) training done without an understanding of why it is needed. Facility leaders must examine the first two categories and determine how often to provide these. The next step is to analyze how much of the training needs to take place in a classroom and how much can take place through other means, including written information, pictures, and computer-based training modules. Some training topics require a simple hands-on demonstration as part of the refresher. Overlap periods during staff shifts can free staff for training. The Denver Sheriff Department has established special training windows during low vacation months to increase training efficiency by scheduling more people for training at one time. The agency also has a small full-time academy staff, plus additional part-time instructors from the agency. Other training issues to consider include whether required fire drills can count as training time, the documentation of routine on-the-job training, giving training credit to instructors, and circulating professional publications to supervisors and others. Overall, administrators should be open and willing to try new approaches and to rethink training.