The goal of the Training Section is to prepare Corrections Division Staff for situations that may be encountered in their daily duties. The protection of employees and inmates are a primary reason to ensure that everyone is adequately trained and knowledgeable in routine and emergency procedures.

The pre-service program for new employees is a four-week program that mixes classroom time and “hands on” application. The training topics meet all Tennessee Corrections Institute and American Correctional Association standards in addition to other selected topics geared to meet the needs of the facility. A recent development in this program includes in depth mental health awareness training. The Facility’s Case Manager, the Director of the Hamilton County Crisis Response Teams, and the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Facility, provides this program. Topics include mental health issues, suicide screening and intervention, critical stress debriefing procedures, tour of the Moccasin Bend Facility, and “ride alongs” on mental health transports.

All correctional staff are mandated by the Tennessee Corrections Institute (T.C.I.) to attend a minimum of 40 hours of annual in-service training. Sixteen of those hours are provided on-site by T.C.I. The facility’s in-service training program was revised this year to a “block training” concept. This 24-hour program is run three consecutive days each month. Each Section and Shift is required to provide a certain amount of staff for each class. This program has been well received by staff. It replaced a randomly scheduled, outdated material program.

Terry Jefferies
601 Walnut Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 209-7043
Fax: (423) 209-7051