Wyo. Code R. 015-0009-7
Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission
Chapter 7: Certification and Training Standards for Correctional Officers
Effective Date: 12/04/2012 to 01/05/2018
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 015.0009.7.12042012
(a) To qualify for temporary certification correctional officers shall meet the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1.
(a) To qualify for reserve certification a reserve correctional officer shall meet the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1.
(b) No person shall receive a reserve certification unless within two (2) years from the date of appointment he/she has completed a Commission approved correctional officer basic training program and has demonstrated the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission.
(c) A reserve correctional officer certification awarded to an individual complying with this section shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from date of issuance.
(d) Correctional officers awarded reserve certification shall meet continuing training requirements of twenty (20) hours every two (2) years to maintain their reserve certification. Verification of the required training shall be provided to the Commission within two (2) years of the date of the reserve certification and every two (2) years thereafter.
(e) Failure of any reserve correctional officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
(a) A correctional officer shall meet the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1.
(b) A correctional officer shall be a permanent full-time employee of the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
(c) No person shall receive a basic correctional officer certification unless such person has completed a Commission approved correctional officer basic training program.
(d) A person shall not be appointed as a correctional officer on a permanent basis on or after July 1, 2006, unless within one (1) year from the date of his/her original appointment he/she is awarded a certification by the director attesting that he/she satisfactorily completed a Commission approved correctional officer basic training program and has demonstrated the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission.
(i) The full correctional officer basic course curriculum and number of training hours shall be approved yearly by the Commission.
(ii) The correctional officer mini basic course curriculum and number of training hours shall be approved yearly by the Commission.
(e) The Commission may extend the one (1) year time requirement of this section upon the written application of the correctional officer and his employer. The application shall explain the circumstances which make the extension necessary. Factors which the Commission may consider in granting or denying the extension include the illness of a correctional officer or a member of his immediate family or the absence of reasonable access to the basic course. The Commission shall not grant an extension exceeding one hundred eighty (180) days.
(f) Failure of an officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of certification by the Commission.
(a) Every person who holds a permanent appointment and holds a basic certification as a correctional officer in any law enforcement unit in the state of Wyoming is required to complete additional training beyond the requirements of the basic certification.
(b) Upon satisfactory completion of an additional twenty (20) hours of Commission approved training, and following one (1) year of additional experience as a correctional officer, the officer shall receive certification as an advanced correctional officer.
(c) The advanced training requirements in this section shall be completed within two (2) years following the date of basic certification.
(d) Failure of any correctional officer to complete advanced training as provided by this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
(a) Professional certification shall be awarded to a correctional officer who meets any of the following requirements:
(i) Has been awarded advanced correctional officer certification, has completed an additional forty (40) hours of Commission approved training, and has acquired three (3) additional years of experience as a correctional officer;
(ii) Has been awarded an associate's college degree, has been awarded advanced correctional officer certification, has completed an additional twenty (20) hours of Commission approved training, and has two (2) additional years of experience as a correctional officer; or (iii) Has been awarded a baccalaureate college degree, has been awarded advanced correctional officer certification, and has completed one (1) year additional experience as a correctional officer.
(b) The professional training requirements of this section shall be completed no later than three (3) years following the date of advanced certification.
(c) Correctional officers awarded professional certification shall complete twenty (20) hours of continuing training every two (2) years. Verification of required training shall be provided to the Commission within two (2) years following the date of professional correctional officer certification, and every two (2) years thereafter.
(d) Failure of any correctional officer to complete the requirements of professional training as provided by this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
The Commission may grant an extension of time for completion of continuing training required by these rules upon a presentation of evidence by the department that a correctional officer is unable to complete the required training within the time prescribed because of illness, injury, military service, special duty assigned or required in the public interest of the concerned jurisdiction, or because of restriction on the availability of required training.
The Commission may, upon recommendation of the employing agency, waive the basic correctional officer training program and certify those applicants who can pass a written examination provided by the Commission and an oral interview attesting to the applicant's ability and core competencies in corrections. The applicant shall prove that he satisfactorily completed a basic correctional officer training program which in the Commission's opinion is comparable to that required by this section before waiver is granted.
(a) Currently certified Wyoming correctional officers
(i) Currently certified correctional officers may be employed provided the employing agency completes all the requirements set forth in Chapter 6, Section 1(c); and
(ii) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment.
(b) Correctional officers previously certified in Wyoming
(i) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment.
(ii) Those applicant correctional officers who do not have current certification as a correctional officer and have been out of corrections less than three (3) years may be certified provided the applicant satisfies the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1.
(iii) Those applicant correctional officers who do not have current certification as a correctional officers and have been out of corrections for more than three (3) years but less than five (5) years may be certified provided the applicant satisfies the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1, and
(A) Passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(B) Successfully completes the Wyoming criminal law and procedures course for correctional basic;
(C) Provides proof of current CPR certification; and
(D) Demonstrates the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission
(iv) Applicant correctional officers who have not been employed as a correctional officer during the last five (5) years or more and have had less than five (5) continuous years as a full-time correctional officer shall satisfy the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1, successfully complete a full correctional basic course, and demonstrate the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission to become certified.
(v) Applicant correctional officers who have not been employed as a correctional officer during the last five (5) years, but were employed as a correction officer less than ten (10) years ago, and had been employed for five (5) or more continuous years as a full-time correctional officer may attend the P.O.S.T. approved mini correctional basic in lieu of the full correctional basic course. Upon successful completion of the mini correctional basic, the correctional challenge process, demonstration of the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission, and compliance with the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1, the officer shall be granted correctional officer certification. Approval to attend the mini correctional basic may only be granted by the Commission.
(c) Correctional officers certified/trained in states other than Wyoming
(i) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment.
(ii) Applicant correctional officers who have previously established correctional officer certification or completed basic training in states other than Wyoming may petition the Commission for correctional officer certification only upon the following conditions:
(A) The applicant correctional officer has been employed as a correctional officer within the last five (5) years;
(B) The applicant correctional officer can provide documentation of the successful completion of a correctional officer basic program that is, in the Commission's opinion, comparable to the Wyoming correctional officer basic offered during the same time period;
(C) The applicant correctional officer satisfies the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1;
(D) The applicant correctional officer passes a written correctional officer challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(E) The applicant correctional officer successfully completes the Wyoming criminal law and procedures course for correctional basic;
(F) The applicant correctional officer provides proof of current CPR certification; and
(G) The applicant correctional officer demonstrates the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission
(iii) Applicant correctional officers who have not been employed as a correctional officer during the last five (5) years or more and have had less than five (5) continuous years as a full-time correctional officer shall satisfy the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1, successfully complete a full correctional basic course, and demonstrate the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission to become certified.
(iv) Applicant correctional officers who have not been employed as a correctional officer during the last five (5) years, but were employed as a correction officer less than ten (10) years ago, and had been employed for five (5) or more continuous years as a full-time correctional officer may attend the P.O.S.T. approved mini correctional basic in lieu of the full correctional basic course. Upon successful completion of the mini correctional basic, the correctional challenge process, demonstration of the core competencies of a correctional officer as defined by the employing agency in cooperation with the Commission, and compliance with the provisions of Chapter 6, Section 1, the officer shall be granted correctional officer certification. Approval to attend the mini correctional basic may only be granted by the Commission.
(a) Job-related semester credits will be equivalent to ten (10) Commission training hours.
(b) If a college is using the quarter system, the quarter hours are equivalent to seven (7) Commission training hours.
(c) College hours can only be applied to continuing training requirements.