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Training & Development

Per RCW 43.101.221, all new corrections personnel employed by the Washington State Department of Correcitons (DOC) will successfully complete core training requirements.

The development of employees is essential to helping the department meet the challenges of today's quickly changing world. Foundational training as listed below will help employees to perform the duties defined in their positions. Then continued training throughout the employee's career continues to develop and prepare employees to be successful within their positions in the department.

New Employee Orientation

New Employee Orientation (NEO) is the department's foundational academy for new employees who work in correctional facilities and offices. The purpose of NEO is to provide new staff with an overview of the department, including its operations, policies, and performance expectations. It has been designed to meet Washington Administrative Code standards, keeping in mind the department's mission and vision.

The department is committed to providing new employees with the core knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as corrections professionals working in an extremely challenging environment. This is only the first phase of training that all department employees will receive. NEO is a five-day academy for all correctional workers that are not employed in prison facilities.

NEO Academy Courses and Lessons

  • Behavior Management
  • Security Survival Skills
  • American Disabilities Act
  • Developing a Professional Attitude
  • Personnel Issues
  • History of Corrections
  • Staff Compromise
  • Initial Safety Training
  • Infectious Disease Control Orientation
  • PREA and Staff Sexual Misconduct
  • Introduction to Workplace Diversity
  • Technology in Corrections
  • Dis-Solving Problems
  • Suicidal Offender
  • Promoting Ethical Decision Making
  • Security Mindset
  • CPR & First Aid
  • Preventing Sexual Harassment
  • Quality and Learning in the Workplace
  • Emergency Management
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Correctional Worker Core Academy

The Correctional Worker Core (CORE) curriculum is a foundational set of courses that introduce new corrections officers (CO), and those who work in prison facilities, to the knowledge, skills, and basic work functions that are at the core of corrections. Practical skills application and testing is conducted via skills clinics and class quizzes throughout the course. It is based on performance standards that are specific to achieving the department mission, including individual, teamwork, and organizational competencies.

The work of a corrections officer, and the required training can be physically demanding at times. See Physical Training & Control Tactics Descriptions (pdf) for a description of the training you’ll receive and the associated requirements.

CORE Instruction Blocks

  • Proper Use of Physical Force
  • Security Management
  • Professionalism
  • Interpersonal Communication for Corrections
  • Supervision / Discipline / Inmate Manipulation
  • Inmate Mental Problems
  • Booking and Intake
  • Fingerprinting
  • Gangs
  • Practical Law for Corrections
  • Hostage Survival
  • Critical Incident Survival
  • Report Writing
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Case Management Academy

Case Management Academy (CMA) is a basic academy for employees who make supervision decisions regarding incarcerated individuals and those under department supervision in the community. The academy introduces employees to the systems for making informed decisions concerning inmate risk assessment, programming needs, and facility or community placement.

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Community Corrections Officer Academy

Community Corrections Officer Academy (CCOA) is the basic academy for employees new to the department who were hired as community corrections officers (CCO) and will work in the field doing community supervision. Case Management Academy is a pre-requisite for CCOA.

The work of a community corrections officer and the required training can be physically demanding at times. See Physical Training & Control Tactics Descriptions (pdf) for a description of the training you’ll receive and the associated requirements.

The primary goal of CCOA is to provide training of foundational correctional practices, methods and skills to prepare field officers for interacting with those under Community Supervision in a variety of settings and situations.

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Work Release Academy

The Work Release Academy provides work release staff the knowledge, skills, and basic work functions in a work release facility. This academy is based on performance standards that are specific to achieving the department mission, including individual, teamwork and organizational competencies.

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