Prison Officer Training Course

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Facility Policies

Orients officers to institutional rules, post orders, and operational procedures. Ensures compliance with facility-specific directives from the outset.

Lesson 2 • Professional Ethics and Conduct

Introduces ethical standards governing officer behaviour and decision-making. Builds a values-based foundation for all subsequent training.

Lesson 3 • Officer Roles and Responsibilities

Defines core duties across custody, supervision, and care functions. Establishes professional expectations from day one of service.

Lesson 4 • Legal Basis for Incarceration

Examines the legal authority underpinning detention and officer powers. Connects constitutional principles to daily operational decisions.

Lesson 1 • Contraband Detection and Control

Identifies categories of contraband and methods used to introduce them into facilities. Officers learn systematic search techniques to intercept prohibited items.

Lesson 2 • Inmate Counts and Accountability

Teaches formal count procedures that verify the location of every incarcerated person. Accurate counts are the primary mechanism for detecting escapes or emergencies.

Lesson 3 • Secure Movement of Inmates

Covers escorting, transporting, and controlling inmate movement within and outside the facility. Reduces escape risk and maintains order during transitions.

Lesson 4 • Perimeter and Physical Security

Covers fences, barriers, towers, and detection systems that define facility boundaries. Grounds officers in the physical infrastructure they must monitor and maintain.

Lesson 1 • Disciplinary Procedures

Teaches the formal process for addressing rule violations fairly and consistently. Proper discipline supports order and protects officers from legal challenge.

Lesson 2 • Special Populations Supervision

Addresses the distinct needs of vulnerable groups including juveniles, elderly, and mentally ill inmates. Tailored supervision reduces harm and liability.

Lesson 3 • Inmate Classification Basics

Explains how risk and needs assessments determine housing and programme assignments. Officers use classification data to inform supervision decisions.

Lesson 4 • Housing Unit Management

Covers daily operations of residential units including sanitation, programming, and inmate welfare checks. Connects unit stability to facility-wide security.

Lesson 1 • Radio and Electronic Communication

Covers proper use of radio protocols, codes, and electronic messaging systems. Reliable communication is critical during emergencies and routine operations.

Lesson 2 • Verbal Communication Techniques

Teaches clear, authoritative, and respectful verbal interaction with inmates and colleagues. Strong verbal skills are the first line of conflict prevention.

Lesson 3 • Report Writing and Documentation

Develops accurate, objective, and legally defensible written reporting skills. Documentation underpins disciplinary actions, preliminary inquiries, and court proceedings.

Lesson 4 • De-escalation Communication

Provides structured verbal strategies to reduce tension before it becomes physical. De-escalation is a core safety tool that complements use-of-force training.

Lesson 1 • Use-of-Force Legal Framework

Establishes the legal standards governing when and how force may be applied. Officers understand liability, documentation requirements, and oversight processes.

Lesson 2 • Defensive Tactics and Self-Protection

Covers blocking, evasion, and disengagement techniques to protect officers from assault. Builds physical confidence and situational awareness in confrontational scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Less-Lethal Options and Equipment

Introduces authorised less-lethal tools including chemical agents and impact devices. Officers learn deployment criteria, safety precautions, and post-use care.

Lesson 4 • Cell Extraction Procedures

Covers team-based protocols for removing non-compliant inmates from cells safely. Structured extraction minimises injury and ensures legal defensibility.

Lesson 1 • Nutrition, Exercise, and Basic Needs

Covers officer responsibilities for ensuring adequate food, recreation, and basic living conditions. Meeting basic needs reduces grievances and supports inmate stability.

Lesson 2 • Suicide Prevention and Intervention

Covers risk factors, environmental controls, and immediate intervention for suicidal inmates. Suicide prevention is a primary duty-of-care responsibility.

Lesson 3 • Infectious Disease and Hygiene Control

Addresses bloodborne pathogens, communicable diseases, and sanitation standards in facilities. Officers protect themselves and inmates through proper hygiene practices.

Lesson 4 • Duty of Care Obligations

Defines the legal and ethical duty to protect inmate health and safety. Officers understand that neglect carries serious legal and professional consequences.

Lesson 1 • Emergency Planning and Preparedness

Covers emergency response plans, officer roles, and pre-incident preparation. Understanding plans before crises occur reduces response time and confusion.

Lesson 2 • Fire Safety and Evacuation

Teaches fire prevention, detection, and controlled evacuation of incarcerated populations. Officers balance inmate safety with security during evacuations.

Lesson 3 • Medical Emergency Response

Covers first-responder actions for medical crises including cardiac events and overdoses. Officers stabilise situations until medical staff arrive.

Lesson 4 • Disturbance and Riot Control

Provides strategies for containing and resolving group disturbances and full-scale riots. Officers learn staged response, communication, and tactical containment.

Lesson 1 • Hostage and Barricade Situations

Provides protocols for containing and resolving hostage-taking and barricade incidents. Officers learn their role in supporting specialised negotiation and tactical teams.

Lesson 2 • Intelligence and Information Management

Covers gathering, analysing, and sharing intelligence on gang activity, threats, and contraband networks. Proactive intelligence prevents incidents before they occur.

Lesson 3 • Ethical Dilemmas and Complex Scenarios

Presents multi-factor scenarios requiring officers to balance security, ethics, and welfare simultaneously. Builds the judgment needed for situations where rules alone are insufficient.

Lesson 4 • Investigative Techniques

Teaches scene preservation, evidence collection, and witness interviewing for internal preliminary inquiries. Proper technique protects the integrity of disciplinary and criminal proceedings.