WA DOC Hiring Practice

[DoubleNutz]

Originally Posted by Greg

Tacoma CJC is one of many locations where the CORE class has been held... Washington DOC went to the legislature to get Peace Officer status for DOC correctional officers, but the Union shot it down. There were some technical reasons for that in regard to the specific legislation, but I was extremely disappointed that the Union did not bring forward alternate legislation that would have made Correctional Officers full peace officers.

I am at the Tacoma CJC. Today we are in our second day and at the WCCW.

Do you know what the union reason for shooting down our full Peace Officer status was? Is there a chance it will resurface in future legislation?


Wow, what a wonderful union we've got... they are right there on our side?

[Greg]

Originally Posted by DoubleNutz

Do you know what the union reason for shooting down our full Peace Officer status was? Is there a chance it will resurface in future legislation?

The way that the Union saw the Peace Officer Status is that it was just another layer of bureaucracy being added which would just make it easier to fire correctional officers. Essentially, what would have happened is that Correctional Officers would have been certified and overseen by CJTC (Criminal Justice Training Commission). The CJTC would then have the power to strip a C/O of their certification so that they would not be able to work as a Correctional Officer anywhere in Washington State. That would most likely happen in cases where somebody is convicted of a felony, which currently prevents them from bearing weapons anyway.

The Union said that they would not necessarily be opposed to certification if it was structured to their liking. My interpretation of that is that the Union wanted things such as additional training and wages, not just an additional bureaucracy.

The Union's logic on that is all fine and good, but they have not since then proposed any alternative legislation for certification. It's not a priority for the Union.

Our Union's strong point is it's first-rate legal team of three attorneys. The Union also has an excellent lobbyist who too often been hobbled by the union.

Beyond that it seems to be only interested in being a caretaker of the DOC membership. They'll fight for you pretty well if you are unjustly disciplined, but they have no vision for the betterment of corrections as a profession.

If you liken our Union (Teamsters) to a truck, it's a shiny vehicle with a powerful engine, but it's got horrible transmission problems. It spends too much time up on the lift, and the rubber never meets the road while there.

[DoubleNutz]

Originally Posted by Greg

Essentially, what would have happened is that Correctional Officers would have been certified and overseen by CJTC (Criminal Justice Training Commission). The CJTC would then have the power to strip a C/O of their certification so that they would not be able to work as a Correctional Officer anywhere in Washington State. That would most likely happen in cases where somebody is convicted of a felony, which currently prevents them from bearing weapons anyway..

Wow Greg, you are LOADED with INFO! Thanks.

I find this interesting about CJTC at Burien because a friend of mine who is a Jail Commander at County said that the CJTC program at Burien for Custody Deputies is taken from the WADOC CORE training. If so then, one would think that WaDOC would be the authortiy on certification and training. What are you thoughts on that Greg?


Also, I am still new but I have been pondering the CCO opportunities and heard that there is an emerging position or role that is somewhere between CCO and a CO... is there any truth to that rumor?

[Greg]

CJTC and the CORE program work together to make sure that they are compatible. I went to the Corrections Academy in Burien in 1997 before the CORE program existed, so I'm not sure what may have changed there. The CORE program was established using CJTC standards, so it's hard to say who borrowed what from whom.

CJTC establishes the standards; DOC has to meet those standards with its CORE academy. Perhaps DOC did such a good job with the curriculum that CJTC uses it now.

I haven't heard anything about positions that would be somewhere between a CCO and a CO.