Training
The Wyoming Department of Corrections Training Academy is located at Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins, Wyoming. The Academy provides training for the Department and consists of a Training Manager, six full-time trainers, and an administrative assistant.
Our P.O.S.T. Certified Basic Training Academy is ten weeks of intense training including one week of job shadowing. All staff members new to the Department participate in the first week of training.
All new staff hired to work at one of the institutions attend the first five weeks, which include extensive training in communications skills and de-escalation techniques such as Verbal Judo and Motivational Interviewing (a technique proven to reduce recidivism among offenders).
Correctional Officers continue their training with subjects such as Wyoming case law, WDOC policies and procedures, report writing, ethics, and managing inmate behavior.
All staff members receive staff safety training, non-uniformed staff get Natural Response Control Tactics while uniformed staff get PPCT’s Defensive Tactics.
Students receive their normal salary while in training. Experienced Correctional Officers may be eligible to attend a shortened training called Mini-Basic. Please ask the recruiter for more information.
Training Academy Standards
All employees entering the Wyoming Department of Corrections Training Academy in a correctional security position will complete two physical fitness assessments during the ten-week academy as outlined below:
Assessment 1: Completed during the first week of the Academy. This gives the employee and Academy staff an idea of where work is needed to pass the assessment at the altitudes found in Wyoming (the Academy is located at 6,750 feet). Staff members are available to assist employees in meeting or maintaining the standard required to complete the academy.
Assessment 2: Completed the week before PPCT’s Defensive Tactics training. Starting with that training and continuing to the end of academy, the employee will be required to perform many physically challenging tasks. In order to enter this section of the academy, the employee must meet the following:
Training Academy Standard or better in each category (see below)
Employees who do not meet this standard during the second assessment will be dismissed from the Academy and sent back to their home facility. The warden of each facility will assess whether there is a post the employee can work until the next Academy. If there is no post the employee can work, or if the employee does not meet the standard within three months of failing, the employee will be dismissed from employment.
PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARD
FEMALE
|
Age
|
Sit-ups
|
Push-ups
|
1.5 Mile
|
|
18-29
|
32
|
23
|
15.26
|
|
30-34
|
25
|
19
|
15.57
|
|
35-39
|
22
|
16
|
16.28
|
|
40-44
|
20
|
13
|
16.58
|
|
45-49
|
17
|
12
|
17.26
|
|
50-54
|
14
|
11
|
17.55
|
|
55-59
|
10
|
8
|
18.20
|
|
60+
|
6
|
5
|
18.44
|
MALE
|
Age
|
Sit-ups
|
Push-ups
|
1.5 Mile
|
|
18-29
|
38
|
29
|
12.51
|
|
30-34
|
34
|
24
|
13.36
|
|
35-39
|
31
|
21
|
14.03
|
|
40-44
|
29
|
18
|
14.29
|
|
45-49
|
26
|
15
|
14.58
|
|
50-54
|
24
|
13
|
15.26
|
|
55-59
|
21
|
11
|
16.05
|
|
60+
|
18
|
10
|
16.43
|