13600-13603
PENAL CODE
SECTION 13600-13603
13600. (a) Commencing July 1, 2005, any reference to the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training or "CPOST" shall refer to the Corrections Standards Authority established pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6024) of Title 7 of Part 3. As of that date, the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training is abolished. (b) The Legislature finds and declares that peace officers of the state correctional system, including youth and adult correctional facilities, fulfill responsibilities that require creation and application of sound selection criteria for applicants and standards for their training prior to assuming their duties. For the purposes of this section, correctional peace officers are peace officers as defined in Section 830.5 and employed or designated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Legislature further finds that sound applicant selection and training are essential to public safety and in carrying out the missions of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in the custody and care of the state's offender population. The greater degree of professionalism which will result from sound screening criteria and a significant training curriculum will greatly aid the department in maintaining smooth, efficient, and safe operations and effective programs in the department. (c) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall, with advice from the Corrections Standards Authority, appoint a subordinate officer to serve as executive director of the board. The subordinate officer shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The subordinate officer shall appoint staff as provided for in the annual Budget Act, beginning in the 2005-06 fiscal year. 13601. (a) The Corrections Standards Authority shall develop, approve, and monitor standards for the selection and training of state correctional peace officer apprentices. Any standard for selection established under this subdivision shall be subject to approval by the State Personnel Board. Using the psychological and screening standards established by the State Personnel Board, the State Personnel Board or the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities shall ensure that, prior to training, each applicant who has otherwise qualified in all physical and other testing requirements to be a peace officer in either a youth or adult correctional facility, is determined to be free from emotional or mental conditions that might adversely affect the exercise of his or her duties and powers as a peace officer. (b) The authority may approve standards for a course in the carrying and use of firearms for correctional peace officers that is different from that prescribed pursuant to Section 832. The standards shall take into consideration the different circumstances presented within the institutional setting from that presented to other law enforcement agencies outside the correctional setting. (c) Notwithstanding Section 3078 of the Labor Code, the length of the probationary period for correctional peace officer apprentices shall be determined by the authority subject to approval by the State Personnel Board, pursuant to Section 19170 of the Government Code. (d) The authority shall develop, approve, and monitor standards for advanced rank-and-file and supervisory state correctional peace officer and training programs for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. When a correctional peace officer is promoted within the department, he or she shall be provided with and be required to complete these secondary training experiences. (e) The authority shall develop, approve, and monitor standards for the training of state correctional peace officers in the department in the handling of stress associated with their duties. (f) Toward the accomplishment of the objectives of this act, the authority may confer with, and may avail itself of the assistance and recommendations of, other state and local agencies, boards, or commissions. (g) Notwithstanding the authority of the authority, the department shall design and deliver training programs, shall conduct validation studies, and shall provide program support. The authority shall monitor program compliance by the department. (h) The authority may disapprove any training courses created by the department pursuant to the standards developed by the authority if it determines that the courses do not meet the prescribed standards. (i) The authority shall annually submit an estimate of costs to conduct those inquiries and audits as may be necessary to determine whether the department and each of its institutions and parole regions are adhering to the standards developed by the authority, and shall conduct those inquiries and audits consistent with the annual Budget Act. (j) The authority shall establish and implement procedures for reviewing and issuing decisions concerning complaints or recommendations from interested parties regarding authority rules, regulations, standards, or decisions. 13602. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may use the training academy at Galt or the training center in Stockton. The academy at Galt shall be known as the Richard A. McGee Academy. The training divisions, in using the funds, shall endeavor to minimize costs of administration so that a maximum amount of the funds will be used for providing training and support to correctional peace officers while being trained by the department. (b) Each new cadet who attends an academy shall complete the course of training, pursuant to standards approved by the Corrections Standards Authority before he or she may be assigned to a post or job as a peace officer. Every newly appointed first-line or second-line supervisor in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall complete the course of training, pursuant to standards approved by the authority for that position. (c) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall make every effort to provide training prior to commencement of supervisorial duties. If this training is not completed within six months of appointment to that position, any first-line or second-line supervisor shall not perform supervisory duties until the training is completed. 13602.1. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may establish a training academy for correctional officers in southern California. 13603. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide 16 weeks of training to each correctional peace officer cadet. Except as provided by subdivision (b), this training shall be completed by the cadet prior to his or her assignment to a post or position as a correctional peace officer. (b) If an agreement is reached between the department and the bargaining unit for the correctional peace officers that this subdivision shall apply, and with the approval of the Corrections Standards Authority on how to implement the on-the-job training requirements of this subdivision, the department shall provide a total of 16 weeks of training to each correctional peace officer cadet as follows: (1) Twelve weeks of the training shall be at the department's training academy. Cadets shall be sworn in as correctional peace officers upon the completion of this initial 12 weeks. (2) Four weeks shall be at the institution where the cadet is assigned to a post or position. (c) The department shall provide a minimum of two weeks of training to each newly appointed first-line supervisor. (d) Training standards previously established pursuant to this section shall remain in effect until training requirements are established by the Corrections Standards Authority pursuant to Section 13602.