TRAINING ACADEMY

The Utah Department of Corrections Training Division works with the POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training council) to provide pre-service training for cadets and in-service training for certified officers. The Training Division also provides classes in leadership and motivational interviewing techniques for officers.

Employment

The Utah Department of Corrections, through its pre-service Training Academy, prepares new Correctional Officers and certified staff to work at the prison, related facilities and county jails.

Please see governmentjobs.com/careers/utah for information about current openings.

Professionalism

It is the mission of the Department’s Training Academy to establish and maintain a foundation of professionalism and education for correctional staff throughout the State of Utah.

Our commitment to the Department’s mission and staff success is the driving force by which we develop and deliver our in-service training. We act as mentors and guide Corrections staff in their training endeavors. We encourage staff to serve as examples to the public and to their peers. Staff are taught to carry out the duties assigned to them in a manner that will limit liability and ensure staff safety, while also keeping in mind our commitment to the public and the offenders placed in our custody.

Contact

Utah Department of Corrections Training Division
Larry H. Miller Campus
Salt Lake Community College
410 W. 9800 South, Sandy, UT 84070
Telephone: 801-256-2450

Fred House Training Academy
14727 S. Minuteman Dr.
Draper, UT 84020

PERKS OF WORKING FOR THE STATE

How can someone earn a good living in a meaningful career while also enjoying family life, outdoor recreation, and other pursuits? Many State of Utah employees believe they have found the way to achieve a balance between their work and non-work lives. Following are three aspects of many State jobs that allow State employees to achieve this.

Overtime Demands

While State employees may be required to work overtime, overtime requirements are not generally an ongoing aspect of State of Utah jobs. Most State employees work a regular Monday through Friday, morning through afternoon schedule, except employees who work in institutional settings and some who work in public-safety related jobs.

Vacation Leave

State employees earn vacation leave (we call it annual leave) based on their years of service. New employees will start accruing four hours of annual leave each pay period. Accrual rate will increase to a max of seven hours per pay period depending on years of service. The pay period is a two-week period of which there are 26 per year; therefore, a new benefited employee accrues 104 (4 x 26) hours of annual leave per year. While taking annual leave use must be pre-approved by an employee’s supervisor, the employee may be able to use it as soon after it is awarded on the employee’s pay records.

Holiday Leave

State employees receive holiday leave pay for the following eleven federal and state holidays: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington and Lincoln Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Pioneer Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, & New Year’s Day. If an employee is required to work on a holiday, the employee accrues eight hours of leave to be used on another date.

Sick Leave

In a similar manner as annual leave, all benefited State employees earn 4 hours of sick leave per pay period, which employees can use when they themselves are ill, or to care for an ill spouse, child, or parent who resides in their home. Sick leave may also be used for preventative care, such as dental exams, cancer screenings, physical exams, and well-baby care. Many full-time State of Utah employees enjoy flexible start and end times; and some State agencies permit their employees to “flex” a day during the week, such as by working four ten-hour shifts and taking Friday’s off. All such flexible work schedule arrangements require supervisory approval.

Education

The State of Utah values its highly skilled and highly educated workforce and encourages the ongoing development of its employees. Some State of Utah departments offer tuition assistance and others have internal training programs to facilitate professional development. For recent college graduates, the State of Utah has an internship portal where paid and unpaid internships may be listed.

Diverse Career Paths

Employees grow within their chosen career fields through on-the-job learning and formal training. State jobs are often part of larger job families, which permits competent and motivated employees to pursue options within their chosen career areas, such as by moving up to positions involving supervisory or managerial responsibilities, or by becoming more technically proficient in advanced duties and career paths. Promotion from within is common in the majority of State of Utah agencies.

Diversity

The State of Utah values and encourages diversity within in its work force and continues its efforts to attract, retain, and utilize a diverse and highly qualified work force by providing equal access to hiring, promotion, and training opportunities.

Leadership Opportunities

For employees desiring leadership roles, the State of Utah offers the Utah Certified Public Manager Program, a nationally accredited professional development program focusing on developing management skills, increasing the capacity of public managers to lead people, designing effective work processes, and pursuing self-mastery.