The Alabama Department of Corrections Graduates Its Largest Graduation Class in Five Years

SELMA, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) graduated ninety correctional officers in a ceremony held Thursday at the Alabama Correctional Academy in Selma. The officers completed an intensive six-week basic correctional officer training course. The new ADOC security workforce members will now report to their assignments at 21 correctional facilities across the state.
Deputy Commissioner, Dennis Stamper delivered the commencement address. Stamper told the class of new correctional officers that their jobs extend beyond their obligation to protect the safety and security of the institution, the staff, the inmates, and the community in which the institution sits.

“You assume that role model position in the institution. It’s not just about it’s time to get up, it’s time to eat, it’s time for this, it’s time for that. That’s the mechanics of it. The more valuable thing you offer is your insight, your dedication to the mission and your ability to make the institution safer and secure for inmates and staff who work there.,” said Stamper.

“We have the responsibility to take part in molding our inmates, preparing them for release... to be able to successfully transition from our institutional facility back to our community.”

ADOC has graduated 151 Basic Correctional Officers this year, bringing the total number of newly hired ADOC-certified officers to 280 in the past nine months. More than 118 basic correctional officer applicants are expected to attend the next Alabama Corrections Training Academy in October.

The ADOC created the Basic Correctional Officer (BCO) position in May 2019 to accelerate the department’s employment pipeline by widening the pool of eligible candidates and generating additional efficiency with hiring security staff. The BCO graduates are ADOC certified to supervise inmates, conduct searches, assist with educational and vocational opportunities and manage and provide rehabilitative services. The new position gives a BCO a career path for advancement through professional development opportunities and by completing the Correctional Officer Trainee Academy after gaining valuable experience at the entry level position.

The growth of the ADOC’s security workforce comes on the heels of the ADOC’s new compensation increases, which were implemented to help achieve the goals and priorities outlined in ADOC’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan. The new BCO position, as well as the enhanced salary and bonus structures, resulted from the passage of HB468, which Gov. Ivey signed into law on May 29, 2019.

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