Largest Idaho Correctional Center Academy Graduation in Nine Years
BOISE, Idaho –With friends, family and fellow staff members in attendance, 37 staff members graduated from the training academy for correctional officers, along with 2 non-security staff on June 4. The visitation room at the Idaho Correctional Center was packed with well-wishers, who came to congratulate these individuals on their accomplishment.
"You don't just wake up one day and say, 'I think I will go work in a prison'," explained Warden Phillip Valdez. "These men and women will be dealing with 2000 convicted felons every day. They will rely on each other for support."
"Some days,", continued Warden Valdez, "you will wonder why you came to work here; other days, you will go home with a smile."
Training for correctional officers includes firearms certification, crisis communications, and non-lethal use of force, for a total of four weeks in the classroom and forty hours of on-the-job training. Every correctional officer must pass a physical and written test for certification through the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) program. Their training is comparable to that of state correctional officers, and this is the same program that all correctional officers in the state of Idaho must pass.
"You have many challenges before you," stated Training Manager W. Lee Maddox. "Your first challenge is that you are a really large class. You will comprise approximately 20% of the uniformed staff in this facility. Your second challenge will be when you hit the floor. You will be challenged by staff and inmates alike."
Mr. Maddox continued by admonishing the graduates to remember that they are mentors and role models for the inmates.
The graduating class also selected individuals who helped them through the academy and had the most influence on them. Correctional Counselor Malcolm Beach was selected as Most Helpful Staff Member in the Facility, and Captain Flemming Greene was honored as the Most Effective Classroom Instructor. The two trainees selected as Best Team Players were Linda Rogers and Robert Cox.
"There are three types of officers," explained Chief of Security Shane Jepsen, "soft, mellow and hard. I want to challenge each of you to be a mellow officer—knowing the boundaries, willing to assist and enforcing rules while being firm, fair and consistent."
"You've been given a lot of information in a very short period of time," continued Jepsen. "Now you get to put that knowledge into practice. You have all been given the tools to be able to excel in your new career. Nine years ago, I sat in the same place as you. I worked my way up to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and now, Chief of Security. There will be plenty of opportunities for promotion, especially as we complete construction and house an additional 600 inmates."
"When you walk out the gate," said Jepsen "leave work at work. When you come back through the gate at the start of your shift each day, leave home at home. This job can be very stressful at times. It is so important to to leave that stress here."
Graduating as correctional officers were Chris Apichino, Seth Arrasmith, Aaron Barrington, James Conley, Kelly Cook, Morgan Coombs, Matthew Copeland, Robert Cox, Kevin Curl, Chrystal Easton, Christopher Ellis, James Gibson, Thomas Granger, Vaughn Hansen, Christopher Jacques, Brian Katich, Sherri Kerns, Steven Loveland, James Madara, Linda Martin, Sheila McArdel, Kirk McGinnis, James Miklancic, Peter Mutolo-Sassen, Aaron Pryor, Robert Rodriguez, Luz Rodriguez-Villeda, Linda Rogers, John Schiebout, Thomas Seiple, Bounshouane Singpraseuth, Kevin Sund, Brent Thomas, Joshua White, Craig Woolard and Shane Yehle.
Darcy Weber, who formerly worked as an educational instructor at the facility, graduated from the academy as a Case Manager with training as a correctional officer. Graduating medical staff were Lindsay Eggebraaten and Barbara Bird.
Corrections Corporation of America provides quality training for all staff in every facility owned and/or operated by CCA. Staff are trained and prepared for any type of incident that might occur and are dedicated to providing a meaningful public service to the community.
About ICC and CCA
The Idaho Correctional Center is a 1525-bed facility located south of Boise and operated by Corrections Corporation of America. The facility opened in 2000 and is operated under contract with and oversight of the Idaho Department of Correction. CCA currently operates 64 facilities, including 42 that are company-owned, with a total design capacity of approximately 81,000 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia, employing 17,000 correctional professionals
