Procedures

Procedures 1. All detention employers shall follow these steps in the employment and certification of detention officers. A. The employing agency must evaluate each detention applicant to ensure each applicant meets the minimum employment criteria prior to employment. This evaluation must include the following: 1. A complete background investigation. This investigation is a critical factor in determining whether detention applicants meet the requirements established under this program. The primary purpose of the investigation is to provide the detention employer with enough factual information to determine if a particular candidate would ensure the continued public trust in the competence and reliability of the department. 2. The submission of the applicant's fingerprints to the Criminal Information Center of the MS Department of Public Safety (DPS/CIC) as a part of the background investigation. Do not send fingerprints to the Board or to any of the academies. None of these agencies will forward your applicant’s prints. 3. A review of the official Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 214 for all applicants who have military service. 4. A review of appropriate official documents to certify successful completion of high school or of the General Educational Development (GED) Testing program. 5. A review of appropriate official documents to certify age and citizenship. Criminal Information Center/MJIC Department of Public Safety “Fingerprints” 3891 Highway 468 West Pearl, Mississippi 39208 Telephone # - (601) 933-2600; Fax # - (601) 933-2676 6. A medical and psychological review completed by a licensed practitioner. Please note that the medical evaluation is valid for six months. 7. A review of appropriate documents to verify current certification status for those applicants transferring from another detention agency or jurisdiction. 8. Officers who transfer from another Mississippi detention agency with a valid certificate (with a break in-service of less than two years) must continue to meet all the minimum employment standards. Therefore, agencies must conduct a background investigation and medical/psychological exam of all applicants to include those officers who may already hold certification. B. Once the employer has verified all the minimum employment standards and has employed the candidate, the employing agency shall create and maintain an individual personnel file containing a release of information form signed by the applicant, documentation of the aforementioned minimum employment specifics, and documentation of the background investigation and the medical exam (i.e., official diplomas, birth certificate, DD Form 214, naturalizations forms, FBI fingerprint report, etc.). The individual personnel file shall be maintained by the agency as long as the named officer is employed as a detention officer within the agency. The agency head shall readily make the contents of the file available to the BJOST upon receipt of a written request. C. Detention agencies must notify the Board on Jail Officer Standards and Training (BJOST) within thirty days of the date of hire of any full-time, part-time, reserve, or auxiliary detention officer. This notification shall be via a “Detention Application for Certification and Background Investigation Review” form, Parts I, II and III. The Board will use this form to determine if the applicant meets the minimum employment and training standards required for certification. Warning: MCA § 97-7-10 “Fraudulent Statements and Representations” provides for severe penalties for misrepresentations or fraudulent statements to a Board. This statute authorizes a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and a jail sentence of up to five (5) years. Further, the JOTP authorizes the Board in MCA § 45-4-9 (5)(b) to cancel and recall any certificate obtained through misrepresentation or fraud. 1. The agency head is responsible for conducting a background investigation. The investigation should reveal whether the applicant is a “grand-fathered” officer, a certified officer or an officer who has not obtained certification in Mississippi. a. The “Detention Application for Certification and Background Investigation Review” form, Parts I, II, and III shall be submitted for either officers who have not obtained certification in this state or officers who have had a break in service of two years or more. Part II of this form must be signed and dated by the applicant. Part III of this form must be signed and dated by the agency head or an authorized designee. Both Parts II and III must be signed and dated before a notary public. b. Agency heads must designate persons to sign BJOST forms in writing. Such authorizations shall be submitted to the Board. c. If the applicant for certification is the agency head, (i.e., Sheriff, Chief or director) forms must be signed by the next individual in the chain of command such as a county supervisor or mayor. 2. To obtain credit for completion of basic training, agencies must submit appropriate documentation with the “Detention Application for Certification and Background Investigation Review” form. Appropriate documentation shall consist of a copy of a training certificate, a score sheet or a letter authenticated by an academy official. Credit may also be granted for completion of an advanced training course such as the National Institute of Corrections or American Academy of Corrections. 3. In all cases, the employing agency must submit Parts I, II and III of the “Detention Application for Certification and Background Investigation Review” form thirty days whenever any individual is employed as a detention officer. Part II lists questions with a choice of “yes” or “no” answers and contains a statement to be signed and dated by the applicant. Part III lists procedures to be initialed, to signify completion, by the head of the agency/department or his/her authorized signee and contains a statement to be signed and dated by the agency head or the authorized signee. Both Parts II and III must be signed and dated before a notary public. a. Any of the questions in Part II, items one (1) through ten (10), that are answered “yes” must be explained in writing to the Board. The explanation must be typed or printed in ink on separate 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper, signed and dated by the applicant and include all related court documents. All crimes (regarding questions 4 and 5) must be reported. The only exceptions to this requirement are traffic offenses where the fine is less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and where the applicant has had fewer than four (4) traffic offenses within the preceding twenty-four (24) months (excluding drug or alcohol related offenses). b. Traffic offenses where the fine was more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or offenses that involve drugs or alcohol must be reported and explained. If the applicant has had four (4) or more traffic offenses within the previous twenty- four (24) month period, the date and disposition of each offense must be listed. c. All other types of offenses are crimes and must be reported, regardless of the fine, pleas entered, or the adjudication status. This would 9nclude but is not limited to cases that are non-adjudicated, nolle prossed, dismissed or acquitted. d. Explanation of crimes or related matters should include the date of the offense and the status of the case. 4. Agencies must submit a “Detention Application for Certification and Background Investigation Review” form, Parts I, II, and III and an explanation for any answers of “yes” in Part II. Agencies should also submit documentation of basic training if applicable. No other forms or documents should be sent to the Board unless requested by the staff in writing. Other diplomas, in-service training certificates, birth records, fingerprint cards etc. should be retained in the agency personnel file. D. The Board Certification Section shall review each set of forms submitted to the Board. The Certification Section: 1. Shall determine that all appropriate forms are included. 2. Shall analyze each document to verify certification specifics which the Board must consider in accordance with established policy and procedure. 3. Shall determine the Certification Status of each applicant; a. Eligible for exclusion (‘grand-fathered”) under 45-4-9, b. Eligible for transfer of current certification to another detention agency (break in service of less than two years), c. Eligible for certification after successful completion of a Board-approved basic training course or a recognized equivalent, d. Or not eligible for certification. 4. Shall communicate with the employing agency in writing to clarify information as needed and to inform the agency of the applicant's certification status. 5. Shall track progress toward completion of assigned training of all applicants. E. After the staff has notified the agency head of the applicant's certification status, the agency head must then ensure that all arrangements are made to enroll the officer in an appropriate training program. Once the applicant has successfully completed the prescribed training and the Board has approved the individual or group of applicants, the staff will distribute certificates and provide reimbursement of authorized expenses. F. Individuals aggrieved by the actions of the BJOST staff may request to present their request before the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting. Such requests must be presented to the staff in writing not later than 10 working days prior to the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. 96-HOUR STANDARDIZED DETENTION OFFICER COURSE Subject Hours a. Welcome & course overview b. Student introduction c. Overview of learning tasks & materials d. Role of Mississippi DPS e. Role of the Sheriff & Jail Administrator f. Basic goals & purpose for jails in criminal system a. Written documents, orders, & verbal instructions b. Policies & procedures 1 c. Inter-personal communications 2 d. Breaking down inmate language barriers a. Control and safety of inmates b. Officer safety principles c. Levels of supervision d. Guidelines for effective supervision of inmates e. Discipline and control guidelines f. Visitation control a. Keys and locking systems b. Cell search c. Security checks d. Contraband control e. Monitoring & surveillance 96-HOUR STANDARDIZED DETENTION OFFICER COURSE (Cont.) Subject Hours 5. Use of Force & Basic Defensive Tactics.............................................. a. Legal framework for use of force b. Understanding & applying continuum of force c. Countermeasures d. Intervention options e. Escorting inmates f. Compliance holds g. Take down h. Inmate searching techniques i. Cuffing & restraints j. Documenting use of force 6. Admissions & Releases of Inmates ................................................... a. Medical clearance b. Health screening c. Booking procedures d. Classification e. Searching & dressing out (including strip searches) f. Release 7. Special Needs Inmates ....................................................................... a. Inmates undergoing a crisis situation b. Mentally ill c. Detoxification d. Suicide prevention principles & application e. Administration segregation 8. Health Care Issues .......................................... a. Legal responsibility to provide health care b. Initial health screening c. Secondary screening d. Sick call management Chronic disease issues overview 3 Communicable disease issues overview 4 96-HOUR STANDARDIZED DETENTION OFFICER COURSE (Cont.) Subject Hours a. Ethical considerations b. Legal responsibility when responding to emergencies c. Guidelines for medical emergency response a. Basic documentation principles and guidelines b. Effective report writing c. Practical exercises a. Jail liability b. US Constitutional Issues under 42 USC §1983 c. Mississippi Constitution & the law d. Case law update e. Practical application of the law by jailers a. Evacuation of inmates b. Fire prevention guidelines in jails 5 c. Fire drills and basic fire fighting 6 d. Inmate disturbances & riots... e. Natural disasters a. What inmates know & do b. Businesses run in jail c. Detecting & controlling inmate games a. Managing your time b. Sharing the load c. Leaving it all behind when you go home d. Basic stress management guidelines & techniques 96-HOUR STANDARDIZED DETENTION OFFICER COURSE (Cont.) Subject Hours a. Ethical behavior in jails b. Being a role model c. Officer vulnerabilities d. The officer at risk 1. Importance of having and following such important documents as policies, procedures, and lawful instructions 2. Based on the Interpersonal Communications Skills Program developed by National Institute of Corrections. Emphasis is on Total Participant Involvement 3. Includes such topics and issues as diabetes, epilepsy, respiratory issues, etc. 4. Includes such topics, issues, and practical exercises in dealing with AIDS, HIV, TB, MRSA, etc. 5. Includes such topics, issues, and practical exercises as ignition & fuel control. 6. Includes instruction and practical exercises in extinguishing fires, use of self-contained breathing apparatus. 7. Exercises designed to allow students to handle scenarios that they are likely to handle in the jail. There are preplanned exercises for the instructors to choose from or the academy can design some of their own. 24-HOUR EXTENDED COURSE COMPONENT FOR JUVENILE OFFICERS Subject Hours a. The troubled teen b. Juvenile corrections vs. adult corrections c. Officer & mentor role for officers a. Practical differences between adult and juvenile inmates b. Mississippi laws c. Juvenile programs a. Classification & placement considerations b. Periods of risk c. Active patrolling d. Communications with detainees 8. Exercises designed to allow students to handle scenarios that they are likely to handle in a juvenile detention setting. There are preplanned exercises for the instructors to choose from or the academy can design some of their own. History - adopted – 05/2001; rev – 06/2004, 07/2006, 10/2007 and 05/2009