Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Employee Enrollment: Agency employees may be enrolled in any Correctional Training courses through the TDCJ training database. The database also provides specific information for each training course offered, including class schedules for the fiscal year.
There is no substitute for effective supervision. Our correctional supervisors set the tone for all activity, which occurs within our facilities. Their success depends largely on their ability to interact with line staff in a focused and positive manner.
It is our intention to deliver training that will provide supervisors with the skills necessary to promote a positive organizational culture through principled leadership practices. By providing training that focuses on the unique skills that correctional supervisors must possess, we can successfully manage our agency’s most valuable resource - its people.
Principled leaders have the ability to inspire people to perform at their best and to do what is right. Leaders must continually search for ways to improve the social conditions of the workplace and create an environment that is truly great to be a part of.
Course Description: This program is designed to meet the training needs of new supervisors in the correctional setting. The purpose of the program is to provide basic supervisory skills such as leadership, management, motivation, delegation, ethics, communication, and constructive evaluation of staff performance. By policy, all newly promoted Sergeants, Food Service Managers, and Laundry Managers are required to obtain Principles of Supervision through the Sergeant, Food Service and Laundry Manager Academy before assuming their shift assignments.
Eligibility requirements: Must supervise employees
Course Description: This class provides agency training personnel with valuable skills and tools for becoming effective classroom instructors. Instruction includes adult learning theory, elements of design/development, performance objectives, instructional strategies, instructional media, classroom management, and program delivery. The course is challenging and involves a considerable amount of student participation. Completion of this course is based on the development and delivery of a 15-minute presentation.
Eligibility requirements: Resource Trainers
Course Description: This program provides enhanced communication and leadership skills, and develops management competency with handling complex situations and problems. This is a flexible program that allows leaders to examine themselves, their attitudes, skills and styles, and their roles in responding to the changing needs of the agency and the employees. This course looks at the dynamics of leadership, organizational culture, the leader’s role, and the effective leadership of employees.
Eligibility requirements: Must have completed Principles of Supervision or Basic Supervisory Training
Course Description: STARS course is designed to be a competency-based training program. The topics selected for this program were chosen from several sources of information; focus groups, National Institute of Corrections, and Survey of Organizational Excellence. In all, 20 years of research in the field of supervision and management were reviewed to determine what common characteristics or skills were needed to excel as supervisors and managers. The difference between STARS and many supervisory training programs from the past is that STARS actually allows participants to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom by participating in various learning activities. Then at the completion of each module participants are asked to process and assimilate that learning by completing a handout entitled “from the classroom to the job.”
Eligibility requirements: Mid-level Managers (Must be a Supervisor of Supervisors). Prerequisites: (1) Completion of Principles of Supervision or Basic Supervisory Training and (2) Completion of Correctional Leadership Seminar or Leadership Forum
Course Description: This training course is designed to enable newly promoted Sergeants, Food Service Managers, and Laundry Managers to more effectively perform their new duties and undertake their supervisory responsibilities. This academy is a 12-day program that combines 40 hours of required Principles of Supervision and Human Resources Topics for Supervisors training along with 47 hours of position-specific instruction on topics vital to the success of the new correctional supervisor. The academy is held in Huntsville and select staff from the Correctional Training Department, as well as local administrators and veteran security supervisors, provide the position-specific instruction.
Eligibility requirements: Newly promoted Sergeant of Correctional Officers, Food Service Manager, or Laundry Manager
Course Description: This training course is designed to enhance the skills of Sergeants, Food Service Managers, and Laundry Managers to more effectively perform their duties and supervisory responsibilities. The retreat is a six-day program that provides 42 hours of position-specific instruction on topics vital to the success of these positions. The academy is held in Huntsville and select staff from the Correctional Training Department, as well as local administrators and veteran security supervisors, provide the position-specific instruction.
Eligibility requirements: Sergeant of Correctional Officers, Food Service Manager, or Laundry Manager promoted prior to February 21, 2005
Course Description: This training course provides Lieutenants of Correctional Officers with the skills, knowledge, and abilities to effectively command staff and resources during routine and non-routine situations. The objective of this course is to enhance core crisis management skills of staff that are apt to be first responders and charged with setting up the initial incident command. The course presents exercises that focus on crisis management through team dynamics, team task and issues, and action steps.
Eligibility requirements: Lieutenant of Correctional Officers
Course Description: This course is designed to meet the essential needs of employees at this level of supervision. This course is organized into five modules: foundation planning, facility management, personal development, staff development and administrative ability development. The modules address the comprehensive training needs as provided by unit administrators and correctional staff. This course is designed to be continually challenging within an active learning atmosphere and evolve the processes into actual application.
Eligibility requirements: Captain of Correctional Officers, Food Service Manager IV or Laundry Manager IV