NCJ Number
67634
Date Published
1978
Length
61 pages
Annotation
INITIAL EVALUATION EFFORTS AND FOLLOWUP SURVEYS ARE REPORTED ON THE SUCCESS OF THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WORKING IN THE ADULT SERVICES FIELD IN VIRGINIA.
Abstract
IN 1977, THE FIRST SESSION OF THE ADULT SERVICES ADVANCED OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL (AOTS) WAS HELD IN WAYNESBORO, VIRGINIA. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM WAS TO IMPROVE THE CAPABILITIES OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WORKING IN THE ADULT SERVICES AREA. OF THE 44 TRAINEES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST SESSION, 35 PERCENT WERE CORPORALS, 19 PERCENT WERE SERGEANTS, AND 16 PERCENT WERE OFFICERS. ONE-FOURTH OF THE TRAINEES WERE COLLEGE GRADUATES, AND THE OVERALL MEAN AGE WAS 34.2 YEARS. BASED ON INDIVIDUAL TESTING ON INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND ON TRAINEE QUESTIONNAIRES CONCERNING THE PROGRAM ITSELF, IT APPEARS THAT THE SESSIONS FOCUSING ON MINIMUM STANDARDS, CLASSIFICATION, AND EMERGENCY PLANS WERE THE MOST USEFUL INSTRUCTIONAL ASPECTS. FOLLOWUP INFORMATION REVEALED THAT 46 PERCENT OF THE TRAINEES THOUGHT THE PROGRAM WOULD BE HELPFUL IN OBTAINING PROMOTIONS. FULLY 67 PERCENT VOLUNTEER TO ATTEND TRAINING IF IT WAS GIVEN DURING NONWORKING HOURS. THE CONTENT TEST ADMINISTERED DURING THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE REVISED AND THE THREE WEEKLY TESTS ELIMINATED. IF THE PRE/POST TEST IS USED FOR FUTURE SESSIONS, IT SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO CONTINUING ITEM ANALYSIS. ALTHOUGH THE CONCEPT OF AOTS IS BASICALLY SOUND, MANY TOPICAL AREAS WITHIN THE TRAINING, SUCH AS THOSE DEALING WITH THE PHYSICAL PLANT AND COMMISSARY OPERATIONS, SHOULD BE REDUCED IN EMPHASIS OR ELIMINATED. FOOTNOTES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. THE SURVEY FORM, THE QUESTIONNAIRE, AND OTHER EVALUATION MATERIALS ARE APPENDED.