In order to provide an opportunity for college students to become employed with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), the department has developed a new training program.
The TDCJ's typical training program runs five and a half weeks long, providing difficulties for college students who are enrolled in classes, said Jan Thornton, a human resources employee for the department. Thornton said because of these difficulties, the course will be offered in a three-week format.
"What we have found is that there is a need expressed by college students for an opportunity to attend the same training academy, but to complete it in a shorter time to revolve around their school," Thornton said.
Thornton said that due primarily to location; the state penitentiary at Huntsville employs several students from nearby Sam Houston State University.
"We've always had a very strong relationship with Sam Houston State University, (but) we're just kind of spreading out," said TDCJ public information specialist Byron Hays. "In the past we've never had a special training format that made it easier for college students to attend training, so this is kind of answering a problem we've had."
Despite the shorter time frame, Hays said the department ensures that a sacrifice in quality of training was not even a concern.
"It's not shortened in terms of instructional programs or the amount of hours," Hays said. "This program has all the same ingredients, and it's the same quality and covers the same kinds of training required to do the job safely and effectively."
Sam Cohn, an undergraduate adviser for the sociology department, said many sociology majors study criminal justice.
"As a general rule, I would say that this is the third most common occupation that sociology majors take," Cohn said. "It's one of our bread-and-butter occupations."
The training is very inclusive, and it will require a lot of work to reduce the course to three weeks including adding classes on Saturdays, Hays said.
"The training covers information on what the rules and regulations are," Hays said. "It covers the rights of the inmates and how to handle situations where they are concerned about their rights and things like that. There's firearms training and personal defense training as well."
Hays said the inaugural sessions will begin on Aug. 4, a time intended to fall near the end of the summer session.
"We think in general, college students make excellent correctional officers primarily because they're intelligent," Hays said. "(The department) does a fairly good job to enable them to ensure their educational goals."
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