MASSACHUSETTS - POLICY ANALYSIS REPORT ON TRAINING ACADEMY PRESERVICE ACTIVITIES FOR CORRECTION OFFICER RECRUITS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 57119
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 555 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Massachusetts Cmtte on Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: Carkhuff Associates
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED TO AID POLICY DECISIONS CONCERNING THE RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND TRAINING OF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Abstract

SIX MAJOR GOALS WERE ESTABLISHED FOR THE STUDY: (1) DESCRIBE THE CURRENT RECRUITMENT, SELECTION AND TRAINING PROCESS; (2) PREPARE PROFILES OF CORRECTION OFFICER RECRUITS; (3) PREDICT RECRUIT DROPOUTS AT EACH STAGE; (4) DESCRIBE THE MINORITY RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND TRAINING PROCESS; (5) PREDICT CORRECTION OFFICER ON-THE-JOB PERFORMANCE; AND (6) DESCRIBE THE IMPACT OF ACADEMY PRESERVICE TRAINING. MAJOR FINDINGS ARE REPORTED UNDER EACH OF THESE GOALS. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASED ON THESE FINDINGS AND A MODEL TRAINING ACADEMY. THE MISSION OF THE MODEL TRAINING ACADEMY TO DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND COORDINATE THE DELIVERY OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE SO THAT ALL CORRECTIONAL STAFF CAN PERFORM WITH PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE. THIS MISSION CAN BE ACHIEVED BY REACHING THE FOLLOWING GOALS: (1) ESTABLISH FUNCTIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS; (2) DEVELOP A FUNCTIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE CURRICULUM; AND (3) DEVELOP A FUNCTIONAL FOLLOWUP AND MONITORING SYSTEM. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A MORE COORDINATED INTRA-AGENCY RECRUITING PROGRAM CONTINUE TO BE DEVELOPED. THIS WOULD INCLUDE USING CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL AND AREA DIRECTORS TO PLAN STRATEGIES THAT WILL ENCOURAGE INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ASSIST IN THE RECRUITING OF MINORITIES. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALSO OFFERED FOR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DROPOUTS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR MAKING THE PRESERVICE TRAINING CONTENT MORE RELEVANT TO INSTITUTIONAL NEEDS, AND APPROACHES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ACADEMY PRESERVICE TRAINING FOLLOWUP AND FEEDBACK MECHANISM. FURTHER, RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE ON-THE-JOB PERFORMANCE EVALUATION DATA AND REDUCING THE ATTRITION RATES OF RECRUITS. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE SAMPLES OF ITEMS AND INSTRUMENTS USED IN COLLECTING DATA FOR THE STUDY, A DISCUSSION OF THE BASIS FOR TRAINING COST ESTIMATES, AND PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND MODIFICATION MADE IN THE ORIGINAL STUDY PLAN. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE SUPPLIED. (RCB)