1. (a) The council will issue a basic certificate to a municipal correctional officer meeting the standards set out in this section. The council will not issue a certificate unless documents required under 13 AAC 85.215 are submitted to the council.

2. (b) To be eligible for the award of a basic municipal correctional officer certificate, an applicant must

   1. (1) successfully complete the Department of Corrections basic municipal correctional officer training program meeting the standards set out in 13 AAC 87.010 and field training required by 13 AAC 85.215;
   2. (2) be a full time, paid municipal correctional officer employed by a correctional agency in the state;
   3. (3) have worked 12 consecutive months as a municipal correctional officer on a probationary status with the municipality where the applicant is employed at the time of application for certification;
   4. (4) meet the minimum employment standards set out in 13 AAC 85.215; and
   5. (5) attest and subscribe to the municipal correctional officer Code of Ethics.
3. (c) The municipal correctional officer Code of Ethics is: As a municipal correctional officer, my fundamental duty is to respect the dignity and individuality of all people, to provide professional and compassionate service, and to be unfailingly honest. I will respect the right of the public to be safeguarded from criminal activity, and will be diligent in recording and making available for review all case information that could contribute to sound decisions affecting the public safety, or an inmate. I will not unlawfully discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, changes in marital status, or pregnancy or parenthood, and will respect the civil and legal rights of all inmates. I will maintain the integrity of private information, and will neither seek personal data beyond that needed to perform my duties, nor reveal case information to anyone not having a proper professional use for the information. In making public statements, I will clearly distinguish between those that are my personal views and those that are made on behalf of the agency. I will not use my official position to secure privileges or advantages for myself, and will not accept any gift or favor that implies an obligation inconsistent with the objective exercise of my professional duties. I will not act in my official capacity in any matter in which I have a personal interest that could in the least degree impair my objectivity. I will not engage in undue familiarity with inmates. I will report any corrupt or unethical behavior of a fellow municipal correctional officer that could affect either an inmate or the integrity of the agency, but will not make statements critical of colleagues or other criminal justice agencies unless the underlying facts are verifiable. I will respect the importance of, and cooperate with, all elements of the criminal justice system, and will develop relationships with colleagues to promote mutual respect for the profession and improvement of the quality of service provided.

4. (d) The council will recognize college credits or degrees awarded by an institution of higher learning towards satisfaction, in whole or in part, of the minimum number of hours required under 13 AAC 87.080 (a), if

   1. (1) those credits or degrees are shown, to the council's satisfaction, to provide instruction in subject areas described in 13 AAC 87.080 that is substantially equivalent to the instruction required as part of a municipal correctional officer training program that has received certification under 13 AAC 87.010; and
   2. (2) the institution is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education.

5. (e) To be eligible for an intermediate certificate, an applicant must

   1. (1) be a full-time paid municipal correctional officer in this state;
   2. (2) possess a basic certificate; and

   3. (3) have acquired, subject to (i) and (j) of this section, either or both of the following:

      1. (A) the following minimum number of years of experience as a municipal correctional officer, minimum education points, and minimum training hours:
      2. (B) seven or more years of experience as a municipal correctional officer and a minimum of 20 training hours for each year of officer experience.

      Minimum years of

      experiencetwoFourFivesixMinimum

      education points in

      college creditBachelor of arts

      (B.A.) or bachelor

      of science (B.S.)

      degreeAssociate of arts

      (A.A.) or associate

      of science (A.S.)

      degree45NoneMinimum training

      hours4080100120

6. (f) To be eligible for an advanced certificate, an applicant must

   1. (1) be a full-time paid municipal correctional officer in this state;
   2. (2) possess a basic and intermediate certificate; and

   3. (3) have acquired, subject to (i) and (j) of this section, either or both of the following:

      1. (A) the following minimum number of years of experience as a municipal correctional officer, minimum education points, and minimum training hours:
      2. (B) 14 or more years of experience as a municipal correctional officer and a minimum of 20 training hours for each year of officer experience.

      Minimum

      years of

      experienceFourSixNine1113Minimum

      education

      points in

      college creditMaster's

      degreeBachelor of arts

      (B.A.) or

      bachelor of

      science (B.S.)

      degreeAssociate of arts

      (A.A.) or associate

      of science (A.S.)

      degree45NoneMinimum

      training hours4080140180220

7. (g) College credits or degrees awarded by an institution of higher learning accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education will be recognized by the council. College credits awarded for advanced, supervisory, management, executive, or specialized law enforcement courses may be recognized by the council for either training or education points. Education points will be awarded on the following basis:

   1. (1) one quarter college credit equals two-thirds of an education point;
   2. (2) one semester college credit equals one education point.
8. (h) All training must be documented, and the course must have been completed successfully by the applicant.
9. (i) After a basic certificate is awarded, an officer must achieve the prescribed training hours toward the next level of certification. After an intermediate certificate is awarded, an officer must achieve the prescribed training hours for an advanced certificate. The officer may not count the same hours toward each subsequent level of certification.
10. (j) Hours earned while attending a basic academy may not be applied to the requirements under (e) and (f) this section.

(Eff. 4/12/2001, Register 158; am 6/13/2002, Register 162; am 9/24/2016, Register 219; am 4/6/2018, Register 226; am 1/19/2025, Register 253)

Authority: AS 18.65.220, AS 18.65.242, AS 18.65.248, AS 18.65.285