30:1B-6.13 Additional training for correctional police officers.
1. a. In addition to the duties of the commissioner set forth in section 6 of P.L.1976, c.98 (C.30:1B-6), the commissioner shall institute a mandatory annual in-service training program of at least 40 hours for each correctional police officer in every State correctional facility. The commissioner shall establish and incorporate in the in-service training program curriculum the concept that the core mission of a State correctional police officer is to treat every inmate with dignity, fairness, and respect.
b. At least four hours of the mandatory 40 hours of training required by subsection a. of this section shall include training in:
(1) sexual assault, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment prevention as required pursuant to the provisions of the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA);
(2) non-fraternization and undue familiarity; and
(3) conditioning and manipulation awareness.
c. Sixteen hours of the training required by subsection a. of this section shall be dedicated to topics chosen by the training department of each State correctional facility from a list of approved courses developed by the commissioner.
d. The training required in subsection a. of this section shall be in addition to firearms qualification training and use-of force training.
e. Twenty hours of the training required by subsection a. of this section shall include training in:
(1) de-escalation, including training in interacting with combative or threatening inmates and inmates experiencing mental health crises;
(2) minimization of use of force;
(3) cultural diversity and implicit bias;
(4) appropriate methods of engaging with inmates of diverse cultures and religions and inmates who are members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) community and gender nonconforming inmates;
(5) the rights of inmates;
(6) lifestyle stressors, self-awareness, and self-regulation;
(7) officer and inmate safety;
(8) communication skills; and
(9) any other topic deemed necessary by the commissioner to advance the core mission of treating inmates with dignity, fairness, and respect.
L.2019, c.410, s.1; amended 2021, c.305, s.2.