NCJ Number
130634
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 53 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1991) Pages: 168-170
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Licking County Sheriff's Department in Newark, Ohio, uses custom-made and ready-made videotapes to train jail staff so as to provide flexible training time during regular working hours, thus saving overtime costs often associated with more structured training.
Abstract
With a small grant from a local foundation, Licking County launched the jail training program, using the grant money to buy basic production equipment. The training director attended several law enforcement video production sessions to learn filming, sound, lighting, and editing techniques. This made it possible for the department to produce its own training videos. In addition to the custom-made videos, the department also relies on the Law Enforcement Television Network, the Law Enforcement Network, and the American Jail Association to provide additional training videos. Records of all training provided must be maintained. All test scores, answer sheets, and copies of training certificates should be maintained indefinitely in each officer's individual training file. Validation tests should be based on principles taught in the videos. These tests, kept on file along with the actual videos used in training, can be used as evidence to defend against litigation that involves an assessment of the quality of departmental training. In Licking County, officers watch the videos alone or with one or two other officers when their shifts can spare officers. Officers have 30 days to watch each new tape. This flexible time frame prevents overtime costs often associated with less flexible training formats.