Professionalism

Performance Outcome 8.1.

Maintain a professional appearance with respect to clothing, hygiene, grooming, and equipment

Training Objectives Related to 8.1.

1. Given a practical exercise, the noncustodial employee will be inspected daily to meet academy standards for clothing, hygiene, grooming, and equipment.

Criteria: The noncustodial employee will be tested on the following:

8.1.1. Identify professional appearance, clothing, hygiene, and grooming.

8.1.2. Identify professional appearance for a noncustodial employee’s personal equipment.

Lesson Plan Guide: The lesson plan shall include the following:

1. Identify the importance of maintaining a professional appearance:

a. Clothing:

1. Authorized

2. Unauthorized

b. Hygiene

c. Grooming

d. Public perception

2. Identify requirements for the care and maintenance of authorized issued equipment.

Performance Outcome 8.2.

Behave in a fair and positive manner to develop and maintain a trust while interacting with the staff, inmates, community, and visitors.

Training Objectives Related to 8.2.

1. Given a written exercise, identify the impact that common courtesy may have regarding the relationship between a noncustodial employee and the community.

Criteria: The noncustodial employee shall be tested on the following:

8.2.1. Identify reasons to foster a positive relationship between the prison environment and the public.

8.2.2. Identify principles that define a profession.

8.2.3. Identify historical evolution of penal system in the United States.

8.2.4. Identify three elements of the criminal justice system.

8.2.5. Identify the place of correctional facilities and criminal justice in the structure of government.

8.2.6. Identify general principles of ethics:

                        8.2.6.1. Code of ethics: dedication

                        8.2.6.2. Code of ethics: behavior

                        8.2.6.3. Code of ethics: career development

8.2.7. Identify methods of handling violation of professional, ethical, or legal standards of conduct on the part of fellow noncustodial employees, officers, or staff.

            8.2.8. Identify positive and negative aspects of discretionary enforcement policies and procedures.

8.2.9. Identify positive and negative influences of a criminal justice career on a noncustodial employee's/officer’s personal life.

Lesson Plan Guide: The lesson plan shall include the following:

1. Identify principles that define a profession.

2. Identify the historical evolution of the penal system in the United States.

3. Identify the three elements of the criminal justice system:

 a. Law Enforcement

 b. Courts

 c. Corrections

4. Identify the place of the penal system and criminal justice in the structure of government.

5. Identify and define the role of ethics and/or integrity:

a. Two general principles of ethics and/or integrity that may assist a noncustodial employee in making ethical judgments

b. Code of conduct and its impact on the following:

1. Behavior on duty:

a. Reverence and obedience for the rules and regulations of the agency

b. Crime prevention

c. Respect for the staff, inmate, community and visitors

d. Impartial enforcement of agency rules and regulations

e. Use minimum force necessary to effect resolution to an incident

f. Report only the truth

g. Testify truthfully

h. Never use inmates, staff, or position for personal gain

i. Strive to perform at maximum efficiency

j. Never misuse correctional resources or confidential information

k. Encourage and reinforce positive behavior

2. Behavior off duty:

a. Practice good citizenship (e.g., youth volunteer work, assist neighbors, be active in schools, etc)  

b. Maintain self-control and discipline avoiding disputes, excessive use of alcohol, illegal gambling, predicial conduct people of  different  ethnic, religious, and sexual preferences etc.

3. Dedication:

a. Self (taking care of you will help you care for others)

b. Family

c. Agency

d. Community

e. State

f. Country

4. Career development:

a.Training

b. Resources for individual efforts (e.g. reading, seeking out additional correctional officer training.

c. Using educational resources such as college courses.

6. Identify three positive and negative influences on a noncustodial employee’s personal life:

a. Positive influences include, but are not limited to:

1. Being a role model to family and community.

2. Honor and respect family, community, and its citizens.

3. Obey laws, rules and regulations.

4. Safeguarding the principles of our nation and state.

b. Negative influences include, but are not limited to:

                        1. Mental and physical stress.

            2. Divorce or strains on family interactions.

            3.  Alcoholism and/or drug abuse.

4. Mental health problems ranging from chronic stress to depression with the possibility of suicide.

5. Illegal gambling.

c. Bias:

1. Define bias.

2. Define discrimination.

3. Consequences of bias based supervision.