Corrections Officer

This foundational course equips adult learners with the safety knowledge, applied mathematics, technical literacy, digital tools, and career-readiness skills required to succeed in a correctional facility setting. Students earn OSHA 10 certification and CPR/First Aid certification while developing the professional habits and communication skills that underpin every subsequent corrections course. All content is contextualized to correctional environments, inmate documentation, facility counts, and public-safety career pathways.

How the course runs. 7 blocks: Corrections Workplace Safety: OSHA 10, PPE, and Bloodborne Pathogens; CPR, First Aid, and Emergency Response in a Custody Setting; Trade Math: Counts, Measurements, and Incident Timelines; Technical Reading: Policies, Post Orders, Legal Notices, and Inmate Rights Documents; Digital Tools for Corrections Documentation; Career Readiness: Professionalism, Ethics, and the Corrections Career Pathway; Integrated Review and Professional Portfolio Assembly.

What competent looks like. Complete OSHA 10 General Industry training and demonstrate knowledge of bloodborne pathogen precautions, PPE selection, and lockout/tagout procedures as applied to correctional facility maintenance and tool control. Perform CPR and first aid on adult manikins to American Heart Association or American Red Cross standards and earn the corresponding card. Apply arithmetic, ratio, proportion, and basic measurement skills to corrections-specific tasks including inmate count reconciliation, medication quantity cross-checks, and incident timeline calculations. Read and interpret correctional policy manuals, post orders, legal notices, and incident report templates with demonstrated comprehension. Use standard digital tools—word processing, spreadsheet entry, facility database navigation, and secure email—to complete corrections documentation tasks accurately. Articulate a professional career plan that identifies the State Corrections Academy Certificate pathway, ACA Certified Corrections Officer credential requirements, and strategies for advancing within the public-safety sector.

This course gives corrections officer candidates a working knowledge of the constitutional provisions, federal statutes, and case law that govern the operation of correctional facilities and the rights retained by incarcerated persons. Learners apply that legal framework to everyday facility decisions, inmate grievances, use-of-force situations, and documentation practices. Content maps directly to the legal and ethical knowledge domains tested in the State Corrections Academy Certificate exam and the ACA Certified Corrections Officer credential.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Constitutional Framework for Corrections; Federal Statutes & Civil Liability in Corrections; Inmate Rights in Daily Facility Operations; Inmate Grievance Process & Use-of-Force Law; Ethics, Professional Conduct & Integrated Application.

What competent looks like. Identify the constitutional amendments most frequently litigated in corrections settings and explain how landmark court decisions shape daily officer conduct. Distinguish between lawful and unlawful uses of force, searches, and disciplinary actions using established legal standards. Explain the rights inmates retain regarding medical care, religious practice, access to courts, and freedom from discrimination. Apply the inmate grievance process correctly, recognizing when officer action is required and how to document responses in compliance with policy. Recognize situations that may expose the facility or individual officer to civil liability under federal civil rights law and describe preventive practices. Demonstrate ethical decision-making by analyzing realistic scenarios involving officer conduct, inmate rights conflicts, and use-of-force options.

This course covers the operational security practices corrections officers use every day, including post orders, key control, count procedures, perimeter security, and tool and equipment accountability. Students learn to apply written facility policies, conduct searches, and respond to breaches of security in a correctional setting. Lessons are mapped to the State Corrections Academy Certificate competency areas and ACA Certified Corrections Officer exam content on facility operations and security.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Post Orders, Standard Operating Procedures & Security Levels; Key Control, Tool Accountability & Access Control Systems; Inmate Count Procedures & Movement Control; Searches: Cell, Pat-Down & Area Procedures; Perimeter Security, Emergency Lockdown & Breach Response.

What competent looks like. Execute inmate count procedures accurately and document count results according to facility policy. Apply key control and tool accountability procedures, including proper sign-out, storage, and inventory reconciliation. Conduct authorized pat-down, cell, and area searches using correct technique and documentation. Identify and report perimeter security breaches, compromised barriers, or equipment failures using proper chain-of-command notification. Interpret and comply with post orders and standard operating procedures for assigned duty stations. Demonstrate correct lockdown and facility emergency-response procedures in simulated drills.

This course trains students in the use-of-force continuum, physical control techniques, and restraint procedures used in correctional facilities. Students practice handcuffing, escort holds, takedowns, and team cell-extraction positions under controlled conditions while adhering to facility policy, constitutional standards, and officer safety protocols. Lesson content maps directly to ACA Certified Corrections Officer exam domains covering use of force, safety, and inmate management.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Use-of-Force Law, Policy, and the Force Continuum; Officer Safety Fundamentals: Stance, Positioning, and PPE; Handcuffing, Leg Restraints, and Escort Holds; Control Techniques: Balance Displacement, Takedowns, and Ground Control; Team Cell Extraction, Use-of-Force Documentation, and Post-Incident Medical Check.

What competent looks like. Explain the use-of-force continuum and identify the level of force legally justified for a given scenario, referencing constitutional standards under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. Apply verbal de-escalation as the first step in the force continuum before physical intervention in role-play scenarios. Demonstrate correct single- and double-officer handcuffing techniques, leg-restraint application, and escort holds to a passing standard on a practical skills checklist. Execute defensive stance, balance displacement, and ground-control positions safely on a padded mat with a partner of comparable size. Describe team cell-extraction roles, protective equipment requirements, and documentation requirements immediately following any use-of-force incident. Perform a post-use-of-force medical check on a subject and initiate an incident report, applying ACA documentation standards.

This course trains students to identify, intercept, document, and properly dispose of contraband in jail and prison environments using pat searches, cell searches, mail and property inspections, and detection technology. Students learn the legal boundaries of searches, chain-of-custody requirements, and the safety risks that contraband—including weapons, drugs, and unauthorized electronics—poses to staff, inmates, and facility security. Lessons map directly to the State Corrections Academy Certificate competency areas for facility security and to the ACA Certified Corrections Officer domain covering inmate management and institutional safety.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Contraband Categories, Risk, and Legal Authority to Search; Pat-Down and Strip-Search Procedures; Cell and Area Searches; Mail, Property, and Technology-Assisted Detection; Chain of Custody, Safe Handling of Hazardous Contraband, and Disposition.

What competent looks like. Define categories of contraband and explain the security, safety, and legal risks each poses to a correctional facility. Conduct a thorough, legally compliant pat-down search of an inmate and a systematic cell/area search following facility procedure. Inspect incoming mail, packages, and personal property for contraband using physical examination and available detection technology. Establish and maintain a documented chain of custody for seized contraband from discovery through final disposition. Recognize indicators of drug use and concealment methods used to introduce substances into a facility. Apply proper PPE and safe-handling procedures when encountering suspected hazardous contraband such as unknown powders, sharps, or improvised weapons.

This course prepares corrections officers to recognize, manage, and resolve crisis situations inside a correctional facility using verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques, crisis communication frameworks, and coordinated emergency response protocols. Students practice scenario-based exercises drawn from real facility incidents, learning to balance inmate rights with institutional safety. Lessons align with State Corrections Academy Certificate competency areas and ACA Certified Corrections Officer exam domains covering crisis intervention, use-of-force continuum, and emergency response.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Understanding Crisis: Recognition, Risk Factors, and the Corrections Environment; Verbal De-escalation Techniques and Crisis Communication; Use-of-Force Continuum, Policy, and Legal Boundaries; Emergency Protocols: Hostage Situations, Inmate Disturbances, and Suicide Intervention; Officer Wellness, Stress, Secondary Trauma, and Post-Incident Documentation.

What competent looks like. Identify behavioral warning signs of escalating crisis, mental health decompensation, and suicidal ideation in an incarcerated population and document observations accurately. Apply a structured verbal de-escalation model (active listening, empathic response, collaborative problem-solving) to reduce threat level in simulated cell-side and common-area scenarios. Explain the use-of-force continuum and select the lowest effective intervention option consistent with facility policy, inmate rights, and officer safety. Execute facility emergency response procedures—including hostage protocol, inmate disturbance, and suicide intervention—in coordination with a response team. Recognize signs of officer stress, secondary trauma, and burnout that impair judgment, and describe institutional resources and peer-support pathways available in correctional settings. Complete accurate, objective post-incident documentation of a crisis event that meets the evidentiary and compliance standards required by State Corrections Academy and ACA certification.

This course develops the written communication skills corrections officers use every day: incident reports, use-of-force reports, disciplinary write-ups, medical referrals, and shift logs that must withstand legal scrutiny. Students learn to document observations objectively, apply facility grammar and format standards, and construct reports that support investigations, court proceedings, and ACA compliance audits. Accuracy, completeness, and timeliness are treated as officer-safety and liability issues throughout.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Why Reports Matter: Legal Standards, Liability, and the Corrections Officer's Duty to Document; Report Structure and Format: The Elements Every Corrections Report Must Contain; Grammar, Objectivity, and Precision: Writing That Holds Up in Court; Specialized Report Types: Use-of-Force, Disciplinary, Medical Referral, and Shift Log; Digital Documentation and Records Management System (RMS) Entry.

What competent looks like. Write factually accurate, objective, and chronologically organized incident reports using only observed facts and direct quotations, free of opinion and unsupported conclusions. Apply standard corrections report formats—including who, what, when, where, how, and action taken—to incident, use-of-force, disciplinary, and medical-referral scenarios. Demonstrate correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure at a level appropriate for official legal documents that may be introduced in court or administrative hearings. Record and organize field notes in real time during a simulated incident so that a complete report can be reconstructed accurately within a required timeframe. Identify and correct common report-writing errors—including vague language, hearsay, missing elements, and chain-of-custody gaps—by reviewing and revising flawed sample reports. Complete digital report entry in a simulated records management system (RMS) environment, attaching supplemental documentation and maintaining version control.

This course prepares corrections officer candidates to meet and maintain the physical fitness standards required by state corrections academies and the demands of daily facility work. Students develop cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and functional fitness through structured training, self-assessment, and evidence-based programming. Emphasis is placed on injury prevention, officer safety, and sustaining job-related fitness across a career.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Fitness Standards, Assessment Baseline, and Safety Protocols; Cardiovascular Endurance Training; Muscular Strength, Functional Fitness, and Job-Task Movements; Injury Prevention, Flexibility, Nutrition, and Shift-Work Wellness; Final Fitness Assessment and Personal Training Plan Defense.

What competent looks like. Demonstrate cardiovascular endurance sufficient to meet state corrections academy entry fitness benchmarks, including a timed run and sustained aerobic activity. Perform job-related strength and functional movements—including controlled lifting, pushing, and use-of-force positions—with correct form and safe technique. Design and execute a personal fitness improvement plan using fitness assessment data, SMART goals, and a weekly training schedule. Apply injury-prevention principles including warm-up, cool-down, stretching protocols, proper hydration, and nutrition basics relevant to shift work. Identify signs of heat illness, overexertion, and musculoskeletal injury and follow appropriate first-response and reporting procedures. Complete a physical fitness assessment battery that mirrors state academy entry standards, documenting results and improvements over the course.

Students integrate knowledge and skills from all prior courses to plan, document, and defend a realistic correctional facility scenario response. The capstone requires written policy analysis, a documented incident-response plan, and an oral defense before a panel of corrections professionals. Successful completion demonstrates readiness for the State Corrections Academy and entry-level employment.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Scenario Design and Policy Grounding; Incident-Response Planning and Simulated Execution; Documentation Package Production; Portfolio Assembly and Oral Defense.

What competent looks like. Develop a comprehensive written incident-response plan that correctly applies facility security procedures, use-of-force policy, and inmate rights standards. Produce a complete documentation package including an accurate incident report, use-of-force report, and chain-of-custody log that meets correctional agency writing standards. Demonstrate appropriate defensive tactics decision-making and de-escalation strategies within a simulated scenario evaluated by a credentialed instructor. Apply contraband detection procedures and sanction protocols consistent with facility policy and legal requirements. Compile a professional portfolio that maps personal competencies to ACA Certified Corrections Officer exam domains. Defend scenario decisions and documentation orally before a review panel, articulating the legal, safety, and ethical basis for each action taken.

Students complete 108 supervised hours inside a jail, prison, or detention facility under the direct oversight of a credentialed field supervisor, applying every competency taught in the program to real inmate populations and live security operations. Daily journal entries, a mid-placement evaluation, and a final employer rating form document professional growth and readiness for academy-level employment. This course satisfies the practical-experience component required by most state corrections academy certification pathways and mirrors the supervised-hours language recognized by ACA credentialing.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Placement Orientation and Post Familiarization; Supervised Post Operations and Daily Duties; Emergency Response and Medical Drill Participation; Final Evaluation and Professional Reflection.

What competent looks like. Execute security post procedures—including count, key control, and control-room operations—correctly on at least 90% of observed shifts as rated by the field supervisor. Apply de-escalation techniques and follow use-of-force policy in real inmate interactions without a single unsanctioned physical intervention across all placement hours. Complete shift reports, incident narratives, and logbook entries that meet the facility's written-standards checklist with no critical errors on the final employer evaluation. Demonstrate CPR/First Aid response procedures when an emergency drill or actual medical event occurs, following AHA protocol within the time limits set by facility policy. Identify and document contraband or safety hazards encountered during searches or rounds, routing findings through the correct chain-of-custody steps every time. Receive a passing composite score of 75 or higher on the final employer evaluation form, confirming overall readiness for independent corrections officer employment.

Students systematically review every tested domain for the State Corrections Academy Certificate, the ACA Certified Corrections Officer credential, and the American Heart Association/American Red Cross CPR/First Aid certification, using mapped practice questions, timed drills, and full-length mock exams. Gaps identified through diagnostic scoring are addressed through targeted re-teaching before students sit the credentialing exams. Successful completion prepares students to meet or exceed the passing standard required for legal employment as a corrections officer.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Diagnostic Assessment and Exam Blueprint Orientation; Targeted Domain Review: Law, Rights, Security, Use of Force, and Ethics; CPR/First Aid Skills Review and AHA/Red Cross Performance Verification; Full Mock Exam Day: State Academy, ACA CCO, and Final Debrief.

What competent looks like. Score at or above the passing threshold on a full-length State Corrections Academy Certificate mock exam covering law, security procedures, inmate rights, use of force, report writing, and ethics. Score at or above the ACA Certified Corrections Officer passing standard on a mock exam aligned to ACA's published competency domains. Demonstrate CPR and first-aid skills to American Heart Association or American Red Cross performance criteria, including correct compression rate, depth, and rescue breathing for adult, child, and infant victims. Identify and correct personal knowledge gaps by analyzing diagnostic and practice-exam results and completing targeted review activities. Apply correct test-taking strategies — including elimination of distractors, time management, and flagging uncertain items — on timed multiple-choice exams. Recall and accurately apply key legal standards, facility procedures, use-of-force continuum, inmate rights provisions, and emergency response protocols tested across all three credentials.