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Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee

MINUTES OF THE

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERIM COMMITTEE

August 20, 1997 - 2:00 p.m. - Room 416 State Capitol

        

Members Present:
    Sen. Michael G. Waddoups, Chair            Rep. Gary F. Cox
    Rep. Robert H. M. Killpack, Chair            Rep. Neal B. Hendrickson
    Sen. LeRay McAllister    Rep. David L. Hogue
    Sen. Pete Suazo         Rep. Susan J. Koehn
    Rep. Perry L. Buckner     Rep. Carl R. Saunders
    Rep. Blake D. Chard         Rep. John E. Swallow

Member Absent:
    Rep. David L. Gladwell

Staff Present:
    Ms. Chyleen A. Arbon, Research Analyst
    Ms. Susan Creager Allred, Associate General Counsel
    Ms. Nedra B. Duzett, Secretary

Note: A list of others present and copies of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.    Committee Business -Sen. Waddoups called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.

MOTION: Rep. Hogue moved to approve the minutes of the July 16, 1997 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

2.    Consolidating Department of Corrections Officer Training and Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)

    Sen. Waddoups introduced the topic for discussion and noted that currently the Department of Corrections and the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) each offer a training program for their respective agencies. He said the issue of combining the two departments into one training unit came before the appropriation committee during the last legislative session as a possible way to save money.

    Commissioner Craig Dearden, Department of Public Safety, spoke in support of the consolidation of the Corrections Academy and POST. He reported that a committee was formed to conduct a review of the Utah law enforcement and correctional training programs. The Utah National Guard at Camp Williams has indicated a willingness to have a facility large enough to handle the training located on the post. The committee is working with personnel at Camp Williams on this issue.


    Pete Haun, Executive Director, Department of Corrections, said he is committed to doing whatever is best and most cost effective for the state. He was concerned with the issue of inservice training, which is currently being provided for approximately 1,600 corrections officers. Corrections training needs to reflect current judicial rulings so that officers have the ability to respond effectively. He felt that inservice training must be job related and consistent with business needs, and was concerned about retaining the ability to provide this training. He stated he would like to emphasize and professionalize the role of the corrections officer in the Department of Corrections. Leadership training for staff includes 80 hours of basic management training, 80 hours of middle management training, and 40 hours of executive development. He said the department is concerned about paying rent on a lease agreement of over $700,000 for administrative offices. He asked the committee to consider building an administrative building at the corrections academy site to house the Department of Corrections' administrative staff and the Board of Pardons' administrative staff.

    Camille Anthony, Executive Director, Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice, reported that the governor is pleased that the issue of consolidating the Department of Corrections Officer Training and POST is being examined. She said the governor does not support one particular plan, but is supportive of the process of examining all options in order to make a good decision in a timely manner. The Governor's Office is committed to working with the Legislature to ensure that the most efficient and highest quality training is provided for corrections and peace officers.

    Joe Borich, Training Director, Department of Corrections, gave an historical overview of the POST and Corrections Academy and stated he had been instrumental in developing the training programs of both agencies. He noted that discussion of a criminal justice academy began in 1968. At that time the Department of Corrections preferred to maintain its own training and felt that some of the training in a combined program would not have application. He said the department is looking forward to the current discussions and studies that are being conducted in a cooperative manner. The department has always tried to be cost effective and is willing to go whichever way the study leads.

    Sid Groll, Director, POST Training, distributed a packet entitled Consolidation of POST and Fred House Academies. He mentioned that the 1990 Master Plan identified Camp Williams as a good location for a facility that would encompass the Department of Corrections, Law Enforcement, and the Fire Academy. Since that time, the Fire Academy has been moved to the Utah Valley State College. In 1992, there was a study on repairs needed at POST; the Department of Public Safety 2000 also had a study on POST development for the future. In 1996 and 1997 the Legislature passed legislative intent language regarding the study of these issues.


    Mr. Groll noted that previous studies indicate professional law enforcement training needs to involve: 1) law enforcement officers, including peace officers, special functions officers, and ordinance enforcement officers; 2) corrections officers, including adult corrections, youth corrections, and county corrections; and 3) higher education to provide opportunities for associate and bachelor degrees. He said the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Corrections, the Utah National Guard at Camp Williams, the POST Council, and the Salt Lake Community College have all expressed support for exploring the possibility of consolidating the Fred House and POST Academies. Agencies giving tentative support are the Utah Chiefs of Police Association and the Utah Sheriff's Association. Mr. Groll commented that the advantages of combining the two training programs far outweighed the disadvantages.

    Ferris Groll, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Safety, referred to the intent language introduced last year to assess the physical and economic feasibility of combining the training programs under one agency. The physical and personnel needs to meet the committee's findings were identified. The committee has met regularly with representatives from local police departments, sheriffs' offices, corrections, and the educational side of both places that provide training for law enforcement in Utah. They have attempted to identify costs of training in both groups with its many variables, and will provide cost estimates in the November meeting. Mr. Groll referred to a 1996 survey done by Dan Jones for the Law Enforcement Strategic Planning Committee. According to the survey, Utahns tend to feel that a high school education and a 13 week police academy is inadequate training for peace officers in today's society. Three out of four respondents interviewed favored spending more tax money in order to give education incentives for peace officers. He said that in today's society peace officers need more training in technology.

    Dr. Morris Sterrett, Chair, Department of Criminal Justice, Weber State University, said that Weber State is committed to professionalizing those who work within the criminal justice system across the board. The majority of administrators in the state received degrees through the Weber State program. Weber State has not been involved with inservice; the commitment has been to continuing education. Currently Weber State is conducting a cost analysis on training for corrections and law enforcement.

    Dr. Geoff Brugger, Dean of Continuing and Community Education, Salt Lake Community College, spoke in support of consolidating training programs. He said the community college is interested in working with the law enforcement community to professionalize the degree in law enforcement. Specific skills developed in basic law enforcement training may be applied to a science degree for peace officers interested in pursuing an Associate of Applied Science or an Associate of Science degree, which is coordinated with Weber State's Bachelor of Science degree.


    Mark Shurtliff, attorney, reported that the Subcommittee on Peace Officer Classification (S.P.O.C.), under direction of the Law Enforcement Legislative Study Committee, has met five times and has fully studied the assigned issues, made recommendations, and drafted proposed legislation. Rep. Chard has monitored and participated in the study, and has opened a file for the bill proposed by S.P.O.C. Mr. Shurtliff distributed a list of ten recommendations from S.P.O.C.

    In the general discussion that followed, comments were made that inservice training must be job driven and must be directed at areas of deficiency. Most agencies need to retain the right to do their own inservice training because of changes in a department's perspective.

    Mr. Ron Fullmer, teacher at Salt Lake Community College, commented that law enforcement officers need to be college trained and that POST training is not sufficient. He recommended that the University of Utah create a criminology program for individuals who want a graduate degree. He also suggested that Weber State University be given the ability to expand the bachelor degree program in law enforcement.

    Mr. Bill Dinehart told the committee that the status quo is not a viable option. The demand for law enforcement and corrections officers and facilities is growing each year. The state is either building a prison or contracting for one to be built every year, which means adding about 150 new corrections officers over and above replacements. The existing POST and Fred House Academy facilities are inadequate, and changes need to be made even under the existing system.

3.    Adjourn - Sen. Suazo moved to adjourn at 4:25 p.m.

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