Phase Two Jail Academy – 2026 – Training Notes and
Study Material
Identify the elements that are the basis for a moral perspective on ethics in a correctional
environment. - ANS✔✔ *Correctional officers want to be considered professional
*Professionals make ethical decisions
*One unethical act could stay with you for the rest of your career
Describe the "styles" of being a corrections officer that affects the choices and behaviors of an
officer. - ANS✔✔ *The avoider - Does minimal work to get by, avoids engaging with inmates if
possible, sees certain types of people as not very worthy
*The enforcer - Views people as "good" or "bad" - no in between, deals harshly and punitively
with people because they "deserve it", may want to use force as a first option instead of trying
to resolve issues verbally
*The reciprocator - Conflicted about rules and views inmates as well as staff as equals, may
bargain with inmates for cooperation, may minimize or rationalize inmate's behavior instead of
disciplining them
*The professional - Is comfortable with legitimate use of authority, is firm, yet compassionate,
acts morally and resists unethical behavior, sees inmates as individuals, but still treats all
inmates fairly, takes pride in their work
Identify how professionalism influences ethics. - ANS✔✔ * A skilled jail officer strives to reach a
high level of proficiency in using various tools of the trade and in making legal and ethical
decisions. Professionals are held to a higher standard and expected to make ethically sound
decisions. County jails are one element in an overall system of corrections. Other elements
include prisons; community corrections, including probation and parole; and juvenile detention
and corrections. People who work in each of these elements are professional people doing a
professional job. As such, they are governed by professional codes of ethics, just as other
professionals (doctors, lawyers, certified public accountants, etc.) are governed by the codes of
ethics of their professions.
,Identify key components of the American Jail Association Code of Ethics. - ANS✔✔ *Keep the
institution secure
*Work with everyone firmly and fairly
*Maintain a positive demeanor
*Report (either by word of mouth or in writing) the things that should be reported and keep
silent the things that should remain confidential
*Manage and supervise inmates in an even-handed and courteous manner
*Refrain from becoming personally involved with inmates or their families
*Treat all visitors with politeness and respect and ensure that they follow rules and regulations
*Take advantage of all training and educational opportunities
*Communicate with everyone (inside and outside of the jail) in such as way so as not to have a
negative representation of my department
*Contribute to the jail environment which will keep inmates involved in activities that are
designed to improve inmates' attitude or character
*Support all activities of a (associations and memberships) professional nature that will elevate
the status of those who operate the jails. Do my best by word and deed to present a positive
picture to the community or corrections and law enforcement in general
Describe the importance of recognizing unethical behavior (slippery slope, complacency, retired
on duty, minimizing); - ANS✔✔ *If you recognize it in the early stages, you are more likely to be
able to change the path (whether your own path, or someone else's) It may start out with
something "small", but slowly progress to more serious unethical acts. If you notice it right
away, you can stop from going down the "slippery slope" to making a hugely unethical decision.
Explain the consequences of unethical behavior (stakeholders, career survival, public, etc.). -
ANS✔✔ *It reduces public confidence that you are able to do your job in an ethical manner
*County jails are closely tied to other elements of the criminal justice system, such as law
enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, the courts, probation and parole, prisons, and so
on. Such entities may be considered "stakeholders" regarding a jail operation because they are
affected by what happens in the jail. If jail employees behave unethically, that may reflect
,poorly on these other elements of the criminal justice system and may compromise their ability
to do their jobs
*Family members (of inmates) may not have confidence in jail staff to be able to properly care
for their loved one
*It undermines the security and control of the jail
*It compromises the relationships between staff and inmates, as well as relationships between
staff
*It has negative consequences in the relationship between supervisors and their subordinates -
potential system breakdown - if supervisors behave unethically, it may lead officers to act
unethically as well because the supervisor shows by their behavior that it is ok, or if an officer
acts unethically, it reduces the confidence of your supervisor that you can properly and ethically
do your job
*It can get you fired - #1 reason officers are fired is for not being truthful
*It can get you into legal trouble - you can be charged for certain unethical acts - may be
criminal charges or civil rights actions against you depending on what your actions were.
Identify the steps involved in the decision-making process. - ANS✔✔ *Identify the problem
*Explore alternative options available
*Select an alternative
*Implement a solution
*Evaluate the results to determine effectiveness
Describe how to gather and analyze data, when doing so is necessary. - ANS✔✔ *Consider
everything surrounding the decision. This includes knowing who is being affected and what
consequences exist
Describe the decision-making processes and tools to use in ethical dilemmas. - ANS✔✔ *Define
the issues - What is the ethical dilemma?
*Who are the interested parties? - person facing the ethical problem, the person(s) immediately
affected, the institution/agency, the community, and society in general
, *What are the consequences? - Consider both the positive and negative outcomes
*What is the obligation or duty? - Someone else acting unethically does not give you an excuse
to also act unethically. What SHOULD you do?
*Explain your decision - Relate it back to a code of conduct
Identify basic guidelines for ignition control in a jail. - ANS✔✔ *Never let inmates have access to
lighters, matches, etc.
*Limit inmate access to electrical sources and regularly check outlets as well as chords
Discuss the most common fuel sources for fires in a jail setting. - ANS✔✔ *Paper products
(Legal paperwork, books, magazines, toilet paper, etc.)
*Mattress padding
*Excess clothing
*Cleaning supplies
Identify basic guidelines for fuel control in a jail. - ANS✔✔ *Check cells regularly for
accumulated papers, clothing, anything that can be used to start a fire
*Limit allowable amounts of flammable items the inmates can have in their cells
*Check for damage to mattresses/pillows regularly and replaced if they have been tampered
with or damaged. There should be no rips/tears/missing padding
*Don't allow inmate to have items that come in aerosol cans (Hairsprays, deodorants, etc.)
Outline the responsibilities of an officer regarding fire detection equipment in a jail. - ANS✔✔
*Know where all gear (Fire extinguishers, SCBA's, etc.) are located
*Know how to properly use all equipment
*Know how to check for issues with any equipment
*Know exactly what to do in the event of a fire (notify proper authorities, fire suppression,
search and rescue, evacuation of inmates as well as staff and visitors, and so on)
Study Material
Identify the elements that are the basis for a moral perspective on ethics in a correctional
environment. - ANS✔✔ *Correctional officers want to be considered professional
*Professionals make ethical decisions
*One unethical act could stay with you for the rest of your career
Describe the "styles" of being a corrections officer that affects the choices and behaviors of an
officer. - ANS✔✔ *The avoider - Does minimal work to get by, avoids engaging with inmates if
possible, sees certain types of people as not very worthy
*The enforcer - Views people as "good" or "bad" - no in between, deals harshly and punitively
with people because they "deserve it", may want to use force as a first option instead of trying
to resolve issues verbally
*The reciprocator - Conflicted about rules and views inmates as well as staff as equals, may
bargain with inmates for cooperation, may minimize or rationalize inmate's behavior instead of
disciplining them
*The professional - Is comfortable with legitimate use of authority, is firm, yet compassionate,
acts morally and resists unethical behavior, sees inmates as individuals, but still treats all
inmates fairly, takes pride in their work
Identify how professionalism influences ethics. - ANS✔✔ * A skilled jail officer strives to reach a
high level of proficiency in using various tools of the trade and in making legal and ethical
decisions. Professionals are held to a higher standard and expected to make ethically sound
decisions. County jails are one element in an overall system of corrections. Other elements
include prisons; community corrections, including probation and parole; and juvenile detention
and corrections. People who work in each of these elements are professional people doing a
professional job. As such, they are governed by professional codes of ethics, just as other
professionals (doctors, lawyers, certified public accountants, etc.) are governed by the codes of
ethics of their professions.
,Identify key components of the American Jail Association Code of Ethics. - ANS✔✔ *Keep the
institution secure
*Work with everyone firmly and fairly
*Maintain a positive demeanor
*Report (either by word of mouth or in writing) the things that should be reported and keep
silent the things that should remain confidential
*Manage and supervise inmates in an even-handed and courteous manner
*Refrain from becoming personally involved with inmates or their families
*Treat all visitors with politeness and respect and ensure that they follow rules and regulations
*Take advantage of all training and educational opportunities
*Communicate with everyone (inside and outside of the jail) in such as way so as not to have a
negative representation of my department
*Contribute to the jail environment which will keep inmates involved in activities that are
designed to improve inmates' attitude or character
*Support all activities of a (associations and memberships) professional nature that will elevate
the status of those who operate the jails. Do my best by word and deed to present a positive
picture to the community or corrections and law enforcement in general
Describe the importance of recognizing unethical behavior (slippery slope, complacency, retired
on duty, minimizing); - ANS✔✔ *If you recognize it in the early stages, you are more likely to be
able to change the path (whether your own path, or someone else's) It may start out with
something "small", but slowly progress to more serious unethical acts. If you notice it right
away, you can stop from going down the "slippery slope" to making a hugely unethical decision.
Explain the consequences of unethical behavior (stakeholders, career survival, public, etc.). -
ANS✔✔ *It reduces public confidence that you are able to do your job in an ethical manner
*County jails are closely tied to other elements of the criminal justice system, such as law
enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, the courts, probation and parole, prisons, and so
on. Such entities may be considered "stakeholders" regarding a jail operation because they are
affected by what happens in the jail. If jail employees behave unethically, that may reflect
,poorly on these other elements of the criminal justice system and may compromise their ability
to do their jobs
*Family members (of inmates) may not have confidence in jail staff to be able to properly care
for their loved one
*It undermines the security and control of the jail
*It compromises the relationships between staff and inmates, as well as relationships between
staff
*It has negative consequences in the relationship between supervisors and their subordinates -
potential system breakdown - if supervisors behave unethically, it may lead officers to act
unethically as well because the supervisor shows by their behavior that it is ok, or if an officer
acts unethically, it reduces the confidence of your supervisor that you can properly and ethically
do your job
*It can get you fired - #1 reason officers are fired is for not being truthful
*It can get you into legal trouble - you can be charged for certain unethical acts - may be
criminal charges or civil rights actions against you depending on what your actions were.
Identify the steps involved in the decision-making process. - ANS✔✔ *Identify the problem
*Explore alternative options available
*Select an alternative
*Implement a solution
*Evaluate the results to determine effectiveness
Describe how to gather and analyze data, when doing so is necessary. - ANS✔✔ *Consider
everything surrounding the decision. This includes knowing who is being affected and what
consequences exist
Describe the decision-making processes and tools to use in ethical dilemmas. - ANS✔✔ *Define
the issues - What is the ethical dilemma?
*Who are the interested parties? - person facing the ethical problem, the person(s) immediately
affected, the institution/agency, the community, and society in general
, *What are the consequences? - Consider both the positive and negative outcomes
*What is the obligation or duty? - Someone else acting unethically does not give you an excuse
to also act unethically. What SHOULD you do?
*Explain your decision - Relate it back to a code of conduct
Identify basic guidelines for ignition control in a jail. - ANS✔✔ *Never let inmates have access to
lighters, matches, etc.
*Limit inmate access to electrical sources and regularly check outlets as well as chords
Discuss the most common fuel sources for fires in a jail setting. - ANS✔✔ *Paper products
(Legal paperwork, books, magazines, toilet paper, etc.)
*Mattress padding
*Excess clothing
*Cleaning supplies
Identify basic guidelines for fuel control in a jail. - ANS✔✔ *Check cells regularly for
accumulated papers, clothing, anything that can be used to start a fire
*Limit allowable amounts of flammable items the inmates can have in their cells
*Check for damage to mattresses/pillows regularly and replaced if they have been tampered
with or damaged. There should be no rips/tears/missing padding
*Don't allow inmate to have items that come in aerosol cans (Hairsprays, deodorants, etc.)
Outline the responsibilities of an officer regarding fire detection equipment in a jail. - ANS✔✔
*Know where all gear (Fire extinguishers, SCBA's, etc.) are located
*Know how to properly use all equipment
*Know how to check for issues with any equipment
*Know exactly what to do in the event of a fire (notify proper authorities, fire suppression,
search and rescue, evacuation of inmates as well as staff and visitors, and so on)
