TRAINING PRISON OFFICERS (FROM BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE AND MODERN PENOLOGY, 1973, BY WILLIAM H LYLE AND THETUS W HORNER - SEE NCJ-10461)

• NCJ Number: 63781
• Author(s): H B GILL
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS, V 20, N 4 (1958), P 8-11, 22

Annotation

THIS 1958 ARTICLE STATES THAT THE AMERICAN PENOLOGICAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PRISON OFFICERS. PAST AND PRESENT ATTEMPTS ARE DELINEATED, AS WELL AS THOSE IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

Abstract

AFTER DESCRIBING PENOLOGICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS IN JAPAN, ENGLAND, AND CANADA, THE ARTICLE EXAMINES PREVIOUS AND CONTEMPORARY (1950'S) PROGRAMS THAT WERE INITIATED IN THE U.S. TO TRAIN PRISON PERSONNEL. THE PRINCIPAL REASONS WHY SO MANY OF THESE ENDEAVORS FAILED ARE THAT (1) THE COURSES ATTEMPTED TO COVER TOO LARGE A FIELD (INCLUDING IN A SINGLE COURSE THE MATERIAL ON PROCEDURES, POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND PRINCIPLES GOVERNING CUSTODY AND TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS) AND (2) COURSES TOO OFTEN MERELY REFLECTED THE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE OF THE AUTHOR OR AGENCY. HOWEVER, THE TREND TOWARD DIVIDING PRISON OFFICER TRAINING INTO A NUMBER OF SEPARATE UNITS, EACH SERVING A SPECIAL NEED, SHOULD MEET THESE DIFFICULTIES. TRAINING IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR UNITS: (1) PRESERVICE TRAINING OF STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CORRECTIONS AS A CAREER, (2) ORIENTATION AND BASIC TRAINING OF NEW RECRUITS IN THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF A PARTICULAR INSTITUTION OR AGENCY, (3) INSERVICE TRAINING OF PERMANENT PERSONNEL IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONAL WORK, AND (4) ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE AND ABILITY. EACH TRAINING UNIT IS DESCRIBED AND EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS GIVEN. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)