Corrections/Protection Officer Training Program
Pierce College offers the Corrections/Protection Officer Training Program at the Ft. Steilacoom campus. This certificate is designed to provide students with basic skills needed to succeed in the Corrections field that will apply to any correctional work setting (federal, state, county, city and private).
Courses include the learning process, dealing with difficult behavior, dealing with change, leadership, cross–cultural communications, understanding behavior, decision making, correctional theory and practice and much more. Students are prepared for work as well as multiple types of testing including video, written and physical fitness tests.
Finally, students will perform a 175–hour internship at a local correctional facility where they will apply the skills and theory they learned in the classroom.
The course is a great stepping stone to further education as all twenty (20) credits transfer directly to the Associate in Criminal Justice degree as well as the Associate in Arts degree.
The Corrections/Protection Officer Training Program is designed to prepare students for entry–level positions in the following areas:
- Corrections Officer
- Detention Specialist
- Security Officer
- Counseling
- Accounting
- Computer Technology
- Custodial
- Dental
- Distribution
- Food Service
- Maintenance
- Marine
- Medical Office Support
- Recreation
Why Corrections/Protection Officer Careers?
- Corrections officers earn between $22,000 and $35,000 each year with excellent benefits.
- Job Skills such as food service and office support earn fair wages, but command highly competitive wages within the corrections setting. Most corrections jobs offer better benefits and job security than found in a non–corrections setting.
- The corrections field has a projected growth rate of 35 percent by 2008.
- Employment outlook and a current schedule of Corrections Officer Pre–Employment Training is available for download as a pdf document.
“Let me work with you to find funding for tuition and books, and maybe even licensed
childcare and transportation, so you can begin an exciting career in corrections.”
— Pat Love, Program Coordinator
For more information contact:
- Pat Love, Instructor/Program Coordinator
- (253) 964–6407
- plove@pierce.ctc.edu
- Christine Pedro, Instructor
- (253) 964–6790
- cpedro@pierce.ctc.edu
- Office of Professional/Technical Education
- (253) 964–6645
Corrections/Protection Officer Training Program
| CURRICULUM COURSE REQUIREMENTS | (20 credits) | |
|---|---|---|
| CJ 130 | Criminal Justice Operational Skills | 5 |
| CJ 140 | Corrections in America | 5 |
| CJ 223 | Special Topics – Criminal Justice | 5 |
| CJ 252 | Criminal Justice Work–Based Learning (Requires Program Coordinator's approval) |
5 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 20 | |
* Students must earn a minimum of a 2.0 in each course listed in the Corrections/Protection Officer Training Program in order to obtain the certificate.
** Students should be aware that certain criminal behavior might prohibit their employment opportunities in many criminal justice occupations. Students are encouraged to research these situations and consult with a criminal justice advisor.
| Class Schedule 2006–2007 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class Start Date | Information Session Dates | Time | Location | End Date |
| July 9, 2007 | April 4, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Intl' House | October 12, 2007 |
| July 9, 2007 | May 9, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | " | October 12, 2007 |
| July 9, 2007 | June 13, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | " | October 12, 2007 |
| September 10, 2007 | July 25, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | " | December 28, 2007 |
| September 10, 2007 | August 8, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | " | December 28, 2007 |
| September 10, 2007 | August 22, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | " | December 28, 2007 |
| January 2, 2008 | October 17, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | " | April 18, 2008 |
| January 2, 2008 | November 7, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | " | April 18, 2008 |
| January 2, 2008 | December 12, 2007 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | " | April 18, 2008 |
| Please Note: Class dates are subject to change. Contact Christine or Pat to confirm upcoming dates. | ||||
What to Expect the First Nine Weeks... Students Learn Together
Classes meet five days a week for approximately five hours each day at the Ft. Steilacoom campus and include touring 7–8 correctional/private security facilities.
Courses include the leaning process, dealing with change, leadership, cross cultural communication, understanding behavior, dealing with difficult behavior, decision–making and much more.
Learning is competency based. You will learn and demonstrate competency in simulated situations.
Students prepare for federal, state, county and city employment tests, including preparation for multiple choice, video, written and physical fitness tests.
Instruction includes report writing, completing resumes, interview techniques, preparing cover letters and application processes.
Correctional facility guest speakers are invited into the classroom to actively recruit students.
The Second Five Weeks.... Students Intern in Their Career Fields
As an intern, you will work 40 hours per week. The shifts that students work during their internship vary widely.
Students interning as correctional officers are provided uniforms. Correctional career interns receive appropriate attire for their position, when applicable.
Students intern at correctional facilities, such as McNeil Island Corrections Center and the Pierce County Juvenile Detention Center, or private security areas.
The initial internship is spent learning rules, regulations, key control, radio use, hostage issues, CPR/first aid, defensive tactics and tactical verbal skills. Upon gaining employment in the corrections field, you will still need to go through the agency's “new hire orientation.”
Your duties will increase in scope and difficulty as you and your supervisor become comfortable with your increasing skills.
You will not be allowed to engage in lethal force or conduct an independent count of inmates.
