2016 BCOT fact sheet [2016]

GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2016 BCOT FACT SHEET



Homer Bryson

Greg Dozier

Terry Edge



Commissioner

Chief of Staff

Director

The Georgia Corrections Academy provides basic and specialized training for GDC staff to better prepare them to accomplish the agency's mission of protecting the public, victims of crime, and agency staff by constantly seeking better ways to improve employee performance through training.

Basic Correctional Officer Training (BCOT)
BCOT is mandated training of Correctional Officers set forth and required by Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). All Correctional Officers must be Peace Officer certified. This basic training helps Correctional Officers to better prepare themselves to perform and accomplish the mission of protecting the public, victims of crime, and agency staff.
BCOT is the largest basic law enforcement training program in the state of Georgia.

Traditional Learning Topics
Introduction to Criminal Justice and Corrections
Legal issues and liabilities
Ethics Inmate supervision Mental Health Report writing Introduction to Hispanic culture Interpersonal communications Human diversity Emergency response

BCOT History at State Offices South at Tift College
The first BCOT class started at State Offices South at Tift College (SOSTC) on December 16, 2009. From this class, 186 cadets graduated on January 28, 2010. Since inception, through calendar year 2015, # have graduated

Career Progression and Advancement Opportunities
Correctional Officers
Basic Mental Health Officer, Basic-Intermediate-Senior Drill and Leadership, Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic, Tactical Squad Basic, Semi-auto Transition, Judgmental Use of Deadly Force, Less than Lethal Training (OC, pepperball, shock shied).

Correctional Supervisor Advance Coursework & Training Basic Management Training (BMT), Advanced Management Training (AMT), Corrections Leadership Institute (CLI), Professional Management Program (PMP), Command College, Deputy Wardens Academy, and Pre-Command.

Training
Five week course, 240 hours Paramilitary structure model
32 hours of firearms training 10 practical examinations Eight written tests

Post BCOT Training Upon graduation, officers will return to their assign facility. Officers must maintain 20 hours of training per year and they are required to attend In-Service Training at their assigned training site.

First week of training, cadets are taught in the field. The remaining four weeks, cadets are taught at the academy at SOSTC and participate in daily physical training. Cadets reside on campus during their training and only return home on the weekends.

Practical Examinations
Cadets are tested on the following areas: firearms, count procedures, contraband, vehicle searches, pat searches, cell searches, perimeter security, fire safety, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and defensive tactics.

The Georgia Department of Corrections creates a safer Georgia by effectively managing offenders and providing opportunities for positive change.