Practice Test Information Packet

Practice Test Information Packet

Correctional officers must be very observant of the activities going on around them. They must also be able to learn a great deal of new information including policies, procedures and legal issues pertaining to their work. Much of what must be learned is in the form of written material. It is important for a correctional officer to have the ability to learn a great deal of written material. Therefore, part of the exam will test your ability to learn the material in this packet.

You will have exactly 20 minutes to read and study the information in this section. During this time period, try to read and learn as much as you can. Be sure to scroll all the way down to review all the information in the packet. If time remains, it is recommended that you reread the information.

The test given after you have reviewed the information includes questions that evaluate how much of it you are able to remember. You will NOT be able to refer back to this information or to any notes you may have taken on it during the actual test.

TIP Contents

  • Scenario Observation
  • Inmate Rights and Privileges
  • Housekeeping Duties
  • Acceptable Use of Force

Set your timer for 20 minutes now.

Scenario Observation

The following scenes are similar to those that you might encounter on a typical day in a correctional facility. STUDY THESE SCENES. Part of the multiple-choice test involves questions about the people and activities taking place in these pictures. PLEASE ALLOW YOURSELF AT LEAST A FEW MINUTES TO STUDY EACH SCENE.

Inmate Rights and Privileges

The following is a list of the things that inmates have a “right” to, as well as a list of things that are considered “privileges.”

Inmate Rights

  • 3 meals per day
  • 1 hour of recreational activity per day
  • 1 hour for church services per week
  • 1/2 hour to conduct religious rights (e.g., praying, etc.) per day

Inmate Privileges

  • Visitation to include:
    • Three, 30-minute telephone calls per week
    • 1 hour visitation session per week with 1 to 3 visitors
  • Extra recreation activity (up to 3 hours per week)
  • Television time (3 hours per night)
  • Two hours per week to attend educational classes
  • Two hours per week to attend meetings (alcohol support group, etc.)

Inmates also have the right to have a personal bank account in their name. This bank account is setup and monitored by the correctional facility. There is no limit to the amount of money they can keep in the account. Inmates can spend their money at the store or in the dining room. If inmates want extra food during their regular meal times, they are allowed to purchase it from the dining room. Inmates are allowed to spend $25.00 per week at the store but can only spend a maximum of $8.00 on food items.

Inmates can also make money by working. Work assignments include kitchen duty, laundry duty, housekeeping, road crew and various assistant jobs needed throughout the facility. The inmates get paid $25.00 per week for laundry duty, $35.00 per week if they work kitchen or housekeeping, and $45.00 per week if they work as an assistant. If they are chosen to work on the road crew they receive $50.00 per week. The inmates must work a total of 35 hours per week to receive the money.

Housekeeping Duty

Inmates are allowed to work at many different jobs within the correctional facility and they must rotate between these jobs. Kitchen duty, laundry duty and housekeeping are jobs that inmates rotate between. Inmates are allowed to work for 4 months at each job and then they have to rotate to another job.

Inmates working in housekeeping are assigned to one of five areas including the recreational area, classrooms, offices, the visitor’s center, and the facility store. The recreational area and the visitor’s center are cleaned from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. three times per week. Classrooms and offices are cleaned from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. twice a week. The facility store is cleaned every day from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

It is very important for correctional officers to be very aware of what is going on in each of these areas at all times. All cleaning products and equipment must be accounted for at the beginning of each shift and at the end of each shift. Inmates that work in the recreational area are also expected to assist in gathering the garbage for all the housing units and bringing it to the main garbage collection area.

Inmates that work in housekeeping must attend a 2-hour class on the proper use of cleaning products and equipment and must earn a 70% on the final exam to continue working in the housekeeping area.

Acceptable Use of Force

Officers should be careful when deciding whether or not to use physical force in correctional facilities. In general, correctional officers should not use physical force if alternative methods can be used to accomplish their goals.

The three primary acceptable reasons for correctional officers using physical force are for protection, prevention, and enforcement. Correctional officers are generally allowed to use physical force to protect themselves, others, and property from physical harm. For example, if an inmate approaches an officer with a sharp object and attempts to stab him/her, then the officer could be justified in using physical force for protection. Correctional officers may also use physical force to forcibly interfere if an inmate is seen attacking or harming another inmate or attempting to harm themselves. It could also be used to physically restrain and move an inmate that is seen throwing a chair at the television. They may also use physical force to intervene if a crime is being committed by an inmate or during a possible escape. For example, a correctional officer that finds an inmate selling contraband may restrain him/her and confiscate the inmate’s contraband. If the inmate refuses to cooperate during the restraint, physical force can be used.

As previously stated, correctional officers should not use physical force if alternative methods can be used to accomplish their goals. However, in situations where physical force may be appropriate, it is important to consider exactly how much physical force is suitable. While it may be appropriate to restrain and handcuff an inmate to prevent damage to property, it may not be appropriate to use a stun gun or beat them with a baton. Using excessive force could result in litigation or disciplinary action for the correctional officer.

Lastly, correctional officers must be careful to only use deadly force to protect themselves or others from death or serious physical harm.

THIS COMPLETES THE TEST INFORMATION PACKET. IF TIME REMAINS, YOU MAY REREAD ANY INFORMATION IN THE PACKET. REMEMBER: YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REFER BACK TO THE PACKET DURING THE ACTUAL TEST.