IQ requirement for Texas CO's?

[walkonwater]

I am curious is there is a minimum IQ score requirement for Texas correction officers? I know that the minimum education requirement is a GED, but I am wondering if there are other requirements in place to assure the public that reasonably intelligent individuals are the ones running our prisons. Any officers out there with the correct information regarding requirements for a CO would be greatly appreciated.
I know this question will raise alot of input from families and loved ones, but I would also love to hear from those who know the facts regarding requirements.

Hope I get a response to this..... I am very curious.

[mc04399]

I immediately started laughing when I read the title of this! I would really like to know the answer as well. Hopefully someone will come along with it.

[Kay]

Please remember that PTO has several CO's as members that are very helpful and their membership is valuable to this site as is everyone elses. While we all have issues with CO's from time to time please don't resort to CO bashing as you respond to this thread. It is against PTO policy and won't be tolerated.
Thank You,
Katybee57
PTO Moderator

[walkonwater]

thanks katybee for posting this. It is not my intention to berate or have this thread do just that. My thoughts are in response to Perry's denial of educational aid for the officers and his constant disregard for the need for qualified and adequately compensated prison staff. Maybe if the voting public know the facts and understands where the needs are in our state, some change could be effected!!!

[Kay]

I agree walk that the CO's are terribly underpaid and the turnover is horrendous. In my opinion Govenor Perry has no concern or interest in anything that might better TDCJ or its employees much less the prisoners that are housed there. Just my 2 cents!

[Willsgirl]

No there is not, but there is a test you have to take before they will even interview you. Then you have to go thru a month long class. That is alot of information thrown at you in a short amout of time, so its not an easy class.

[lormur]

My Opinion Only, I have spent a life time in the education, mental health field and IQ has very little to do with whether or not someone would do well as a CO. We have people walking around with IQ's of 140 that have no COMMON SENSE.
There are so many qualities that go into becoming a good CO that it would take a battery of test and you could still not rule out all of the bad ones. We have some great ones on this site. I'll bet that most of them have a lot of common sense, good people skills, compassion, intelligence,and a genuine concern for the well being of both us and our inmates. IQ Test tell us little about a person. Therefore I hope they never resort to using just an IQ test as a standard to hire CO's.

[mc04399]

I personally don't think Perry has any concern for the whole criminal justice system and the people who are involved and end up paying the price. That is part of the reason our prisons are so overcrowded.

[Ashagirl]

Hopefully, someone more familiar will clarify this point for me. but I'm thinking that until recently...there wasn't much or any college required for the "ranking officers"...am I right on that? For example, what is the educational level required for warden on down?

[lormur]

I have no idea if there is any educational level for the wardens or not but I believe that High School or GED is for those under him. As for that matter, I doubt that there is an educational level for the top Brass other than to know a politician. I don't think education is the key to getting good people, I think paying a decent wage is more important than having a PHD. They are political appointees so know someone in top state govt. and get a good paying job.
I have lots and lots of education but I sure don't think it qualifies me to be a CO nor a warden. I believe too much in rehabilitation to be in the upper levels so I guess that leaves me out of all of TDCJ.
If you want to see some really high IQ People that have no common sense, just attend a MENSA Convention.

[Willsgirl]

SERGEANT

1. Graduation from an accredited senior high school or equivalent or GED.

2. Two years full-time, wage-earning correctional custody or law
enforcement experience.

*The selected applicant will be required to attend and successfully complete the Sergeants Training Academy in Huntsville as a condition of selection. To ensure compliance with PD-97, Principles of Supervision (POS) and Human Resources Topics for Supervisors (HRTS) will be included in the Sergeants Training Academy. Completion of the training will be required before the selected applicant will be assigned to a shift.*


LIEUTENANT

1.Graduation from an accredited senior high school or equivalent or GED.

2.Three years full-time, wage-earning correctional custody or law
enforcement experience to include one year in the supervision of
employees. Operational Review Sergeant or Security Threat Group
Sergeant experience may be substituted for supervisory experience
for a maximum substitution of one year. Thirty semester hours with
a minimum of six semester hours in Criminal Justice from a college
or university accredited by an organization recognized by the Council
for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) may be substituted for one
year of non-supervisory experience for a maximum substitution of one
year.

MAJOR

1.Graduation from an accredited senior high school or equivalent or GED.

2.Six years full-time, wage-earning correctional custody or law
enforcement experience to include three years in the supervision of
employees. Operational Review Sergeant or Security Threat Group
Sergeant experience may be substituted for supervisory experience
for a maximum substitution of one year. At least one year of the
supervisory experience must be as a mid-level manager (supervisor of
supervisors). Thirty semester hours with a minimum of six semester
hours in Criminal Justice from a college or university accredited by
an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA) may be substituted for one year of the non-
supervisory experience for a maximum substitution of one year.

ASSISTANT WARDEN

1. Thirty semester hours from a college or university accredited by an
organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA). Each additional thirty semester hours from
an accredited college or university may be substituted for one year
of non-supervisory experience with a maximum substitution of two
years. A Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice or a related field
from an accredited college or university may be substituted for
three years of the required non-supervisory experience.

2. Nine years full-time, wage-earning adult correctional custody or
adult criminal justice program administration experience to include
five years in the supervision of employees.


WARDEN I

1. Sixty semester hours from a college or university accredited
by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA). An additional thirty semester hours from an
accredited college or university may be substituted for one year
of non-supervisory experience. A Bachelor's degree in Criminal
Justice or a related field from an accredited college or university
may be substituted for two years of the required non-supervisory
experience.

2. Ten years full-time, wage-earning adult correctional custody or
adult criminal justice program administration experience to include
six years in the supervision of employees.

[apostle]

To Walk:
First I was going to be sarcastic, as I thought you were being with the title of your post. I went ahead and read the post as I have read several of your posts prior and always thought you to be reasonable. Obviously the intelect of the staff comes into question, but we are almost 4,000 officers short- let's just say the requirements have been adjusted since I was hired.
I'm not intrested in an IQ test for the potential staff, let's implement a psychological assessment or better yet a test to determine integrity and ethics, give me an honest, ethical C.O. and the rest of this discussion will become a mute point.

[jojacks]

apostle, I agree with you - honesty and integrity is as important as a high IQ.

[lormur]

APOSTLE & JO,
I agree with both of you but what is so sad is that there is a battery of test that could very easily be administered that would give great insight into all of these things.

[ParoledIn98]

Most of the officers are pretty level headed; however, there are, like anywhere else you go, bad apples that cause problems for the security of the institution. I'll deal with an ethical, level-headed officer anyday than the "dirty one". You always know where you stand and what to expect from the ethical and level headed CO's.

Bill

[walkonwater]

Originally Posted by apostle

I'm not intrested in an IQ test for the potential staff, let's implement a psychological assessment or better yet a test to determine integrity and ethics, give me an honest, ethical C.O. and the rest of this discussion will become a mute point.

what a great idea!! A psychological test to determine integrity and ethics!! If we could administer a test to determine personal agendas beforehand, then I imagine that our prisons would be safer for inmates and officers alike. I also imagine that the percentages in recidivism might even decrease as well.

Maybe we could even apply the testing to our politicians! Now, wouldn't that shake things up in Austin!??

[ParoledIn98]

I'd think we'd have very few politicians on the job working for us (what? ya mean I can't stick my greedy hands into the pork barrel?) great idea !!!


Bill

[funtie8]

I doubt that recidivism has anything to do with CO's. That's a personal decision made by an offender. Rehabilitation is all up to the inmate and today TDCJ offers programs that offenders can utilize. TDCJ just need to make sure they have appropriate staff(social workers,etc) in charge of these programs. We do need to put more money into rehab programs instead of prisons. CO's are responsible for their behavior and inmates are responsible for theirs. A high IQ would mean nothing. We have serial killers that are genius. Integrity and ethics would be best. Might give it to a few offenders also to see where they stand since anit social and histrionic behavior would be a big diagnosis I am sure when they are "evaluated" upon entering prison.

[walkonwater]

Funtie, I love your posts and you are one of the most level headed people here, but, I have to differ with you on this one, girlfriend.

I picture a teacher with a student who doesn't want to be in school and sees no use for it, and that teacher can be the one who is able to turn that student around through the respect gained, the seeds planted in the mind of the student and the overall relationship they may have.

I think that a good CO can have alot to do with whether a person decides to change their life for the better. By the same token, I think a bad CO can reinforce "stinkin thinkin" of an inmate and even in unconscious ways encourage them to continue in a life with bad choices.

I think there are many things that would change for the better if we could assure that every CO were the best the state had to offer.

[funtie8]

A good CO may be an encouragement for change in an offender. But whether they reoffend is going to be up to their own resolve to change and some other factors. However, that is why I believe TDCJ should make sure they have the most appropriate social service staff and volunteers in the prisons. Those are the folks I think that may have the greatest impact on offenders. Along with family and friends who are strong in their requirement that while they love the offender everyone must take responsibility for the life they decide to live. I would have to ask Michael's opinion this weekend when I see him.
As a child of an educator I do like your analogy. My mom would really like it also. But she would tell you that she's a very commited teacher that needs to retire but is afraid of what the kids would do without her. It's the system and lack of parental involvment that prohibits learning in the schools.
I think the world of prison is so complex and really beyond what many of us could even imagine. When I had a phone interview with the lead voter in Michael's case we talked a really long time about rehabilitation in prison. He had at one time been a warden and said that in some regards the fact that prison is not set up to rehabilitate offenders but give them opportunities to change if they are wanting it is best. At the same time he agreed that TDCJ needed more programs and staff to assist in that road to rehabilitation. Like I said it's so complex. Maybe some exoffenders who have actually changed their life could be on an advisory board for TDCJ. We just have to remember while most of us believe our loved ones are being "angels" on the inside there are a great deal of inmates that are racking havoc and creating a very dangerous atmosphere for other inmates and prison staff. Of course if we looked at prisons in other countries we'd feel really lucky. There needs to be change and of course building more prisons and violating people on bs charges needs to stop. At the same time you have to look at how much they pay CO's. I wouldn't take my degrees and work anywhere that I might face getting urine, feces and other gross incidence thrown on me and get paid craps. If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.
Like I said very complex. But the exoffender advisory board may be a good idea What do you think?
Of course there are some good CO's taking the pay because in some rural areas it's either prison or walmart. Both are low paying but the state has better benefits.

[walkonwater]

Having a truly rehabilitated ex offenders offer their wisdom in an advisory capacity is a great idea. Sadly, I don't know that our society and their stereotypical view of anyone with the label "offender or ex-offender" is ready to allow this.
As for me, I am reminded of the commandment to "comfort others as ye yourselves have been comforted". It is just logical that someone who has been "there" can offer much wisdom and guidance to others. However, we would not only have to overcome the stereotypes of society towards an inmate, but also the total apathy of our government officials towards the prison system, the staff and the inmates to have this idea put in place. The more I live my life with my husband as an inmate the more saddened I am by the state of things in general, and the way the world is today. When did we as humans become so frightened of helping others that we are afraid of giving others a second chance?

[jojacks]

For me, Dustin being incarcarated has taught me to really have an open mind. I get furious when he sometimes tell me about actions of some of the COs, but I have to stop and think that I am only getting his story. Not that I don't believe him, but he is a 20 year old who has never liked anyone telling him what to do, so I know he can have a "mouth". There have been several instances where I wanted to call the Warden and make a complaint, but decided to let the situation play itself out. NOW, if it were something really serious, this grandmother would stop at nothing to get the situation taken care of. I just do not want to do anything to make his situation worse. I try to let him deal with it and so far it has worked.
I have become more compassionate towards the inmates. I never thought I would be helping an inmate that I do not know, but Dustin's ex cellie is young and lost his mother and grandmother within 6 months and he has no one to turn to. I put money in his account and write him and even wrote a letter to the PB for him. He sent me a Mother's Day card and it brought me to tears.
We all have one thing in common and that is fighting for our loved ones and bringing them home. I try to respect the CO's and other prison staff and I just hope that Dustin is given the same.

[BrandNewGirl]

Jo, you are a treasure. Just wanted you to know that.

Nance

[jojacks]

Nance, what a nice thing to say!!!!!! Thanks!

[moblack]

is there an IQ to be an inmate?