NCJ Number
125191
Date Published
1990
Length
47 pages
Annotation
The New York Department of Correctional Services trained 3,689 correctional officers (CO's) during fiscal year 1987-1988 and 1988-1989.
Abstract
Prior to their appointment to training academies, CO recruits were psychologically and medically screened. The cost of screening and training averaged over $14 million per year over the two fiscal years. The cost of screening a CO who remained in the system at least 1 full year averaged over $13,000. Of 13,701 people attempting to become a CO since 1985, almost half were either disqualified through screening or voluntarily withdrew during screening. Of 4,006 candidates failing the screening process, 80 percent involved disqualifications attributable to psychological screening. Ninety-one percent of CO's indicated that the academy portion of training was useful or very useful. While CO's also believed that on-the-job training (OJT) was useful or very useful, some problems were observed in this training segment. Not all recruits were trained in all areas in a facility where recruits in OJT are supposed to train. Some recruits also worked the 11pm-7am shift and worked alone, contrary to training directives. Recruit training consisted of 6 weeks of academy instruction and an OJT portion of 4 weeks. Appendixes contain additional information on CO training. 10 footnotes, 13 tables, 6 charts, exhibits, 1 map.