West Virginia Division of Corrections

Mission Statement

The mission of the West Virginia Corrections Academy is to provide an aggressive training program to develop exemplary corrections professionals; enhance job performance; sharpen skills; and foster team spirit, professionalism, and integrity.

Vision Statement

To be recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities in correctional training and staff development.

Leadership Biography

Randy Perdue is the Director of Training for the West Virginia Division of Corrections. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in August 1997. Since his retirement, he worked at Mount Olive Correctional Complex and later transferred to the Division of Highways as a Personnel Director. Randy returned to the Division of Corrections in July of 1998 as the Training Director. While in the Marine Corps, Randy spent the majority of his time training Military Police. He was the Chief Instructor at the Military Police Academy, Lackland Air Force Base, from 1983-1985.  While instructing at the Academy, Randy was selected by the Marine Corps to train the Drug Enforcement Agency in Sniper Techniques, Camouflage and Land Navigation. He was given special recognition from the Commandant of the Marine Corps for his efforts and accomplishments.

 

Randy also trained and worked with the FBI's Advanced Marksmanship Trainers and conducted several co-operations with the South Carolina FBI SWAT Team. In 1993 he trained a Marine Corps Special Reaction Team who won the South Carolina S.W.A.T. team competition at the State Police Olympics two consecutive years under his charge. 

 

In 1995 Randy was promoted to the rank of Command First Sergeant and often performed the duties as the Battalion Sergeant Major of a 1300 Marine Battalion. He developed leadership programs for the Marine Corps that are still used today, which also resulted in earning him the Presidential Meritorious Service Medal.  Randy spent many hours on the road his last two years of service as a keynote speaker for Battalions of Marines on the topics of leadership and personal development.

 

Since his appointment as DOC’s Training Director, he initiated, developed, and trained the division’s first state wide Emergency Response Team.  In July of 2004, the Department of Justice in collaboration with Excelsior College rated the WV Corrections Academy’s curriculum content and design within the top 10 corrections training departments in the nation.  He also initiated and developed an employee awards program.  As the culture was systematically changing in the agency, Randy determined the need to amend the agency’s mission statement which ultimately resulted in a new Vision, Mission, and Core Values Statement.  This initiative has made a tremendous impact to the agency as well as public safety.

 

Randy served as a Regional Field Coordinator for the National Institute of Corrections Northeast Region where he organized training events for the Northeastern United States and frequently conducted training for NIC.  As of November 2010, he will be president-elect for the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel IACTP.  Randy is also a commissioner for the International Correctional Trainer Certification Commission, a former auditor for the American Correctional Association, a member of the Southern States Correctional Association, and a member of the Correctional Peace Officer Foundation. 

 

 

History

The West Virginia Corrections Academy provides a four phase training program for sworn and civilian staff of the West Virginia Department of Public Safety, Division of Corrections. These phases are Basic, Orientation Program, In-Service and Specialized Training.

Correctional Officers employed by county and other state agencies complete Basic Training and attend Specialized Training programs sponsored or conducted by the Academy. Formerly, the Division of Corrections training function was administered and operated through the West Virginia State Police Academy.

In 1982, then Commissioner of Corrections, W. Joseph McCoy, recognized the need for positive changes in the division’s organizational culture and line operations. One of the actions taken to effect these changes was the creation of the West Virginia Corrections Academy.

In September 1982 the Academy began operations located in Randolph County near the Huttonsville Correctional Center. In August 1987 the Academy was moved to the campus of West Liberty State College located near the city of Wheeling in Ohio County. It was relocated in August 1996 to its location on the campus of West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery, Fayette County. In January 2007 it was relocated to Parchment Valley, Ripley, WV. In December 2009 it was relocated to The Morris Criminal Justice Training Center, Glenville, WV.

The Academy is a separate unit within the Division of Corrections. The chief executive officer of the Academy is the Director of Training. The Director reports to the Deputy Commissioner for Community Operations. In addition to exercising responsibility and authority over all staff training, the Director of Training supervises Correctional Magistrates. Correctional Magistrates administer and operate the formal inmate disciplinary process in all adult facilities operated by the Division of Corrections.

Since its creation, the Academy has played a vital role in effecting positive change in the Division of Corrections. All four phases of the training program have helped to accomplish these changes. Of the four phases, Basic Training has been of major importance and constitutes the largest percentage of trainees and training hours in a given year.

The Academy traditionally schedules two Basic Training classes each quarter of the Training Year, to run concurrently. Basic Training has been a vital tool in the introduction, development and establishment of "esprit de corps", the importance of quality and teamwork, a common base of theoretical and operational knowledge, skills and abilities, and fosters an environment which stresses continuing training and education for career-minded individuals. Basic Training accomplishes these ends through many means.

Administrators, Academy Staff, and former students talk about the "Academy experience." One of the most valuable parts of that experience is the residential nature of Academy Basic Training. Basic Training is conducted in a four-week residential format. From day one until completion, each student begins, ends and spends his or her day with peers. This has and continues to yield many positive results for the Division of Corrections and in turn the people of West Virginia.

The public safety function of the agency is paramilitary in its structure and operation. The majority of Basic Training trainees are uniformed correctional officers. For this reason, the Academy Basic experience must instill personal discipline, strict adherence to the chain of command, the concept of teamwork and compliance with rules and regulations. The Academy seeks to accomplish these goals through a tightly controlled training environment. Trainees are required to be in training eight hours a day, perform work details, stand inspections, participate in fitness training and are subject to curfew. Personal behaviors and habits are strictly monitored.

In summary, the Academy becomes the trainee’s work site for four weeks and the trainee must act accordingly. Staff supervision is critical for success of the program. Trainees are guided through the program by a Class Advisor, and a staff duty officer provides supervision in the evening hours. The Academy operates and administers the Correctional Officer Apprenticeship Program. This program is approved by the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. The program consists of 4,000 hours of On-the-Job training in ten work processes and 400 hours of Related Studies. The program was initiated in November 1991. 140 officers completed the program in fiscal year 1999 and received certification as journeyman correctional officers by the U. S. Department of Labor.