Enrollment is now open for a new, free college and career readiness program aimed at reducing barriers for people who need additional help becoming an Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) corrections officer, according to the Alabama Community College System.

residents Those who wish to become prison officers You have now been selected to participate in ACTIVATE, a joint venture between ADOC and the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) to help residents meet the pre-employment physical and educational requirements for correctional officer positions. Completion of ACTIVATE can earn you up to nine credits at an Alabama Community College and prepare you for entry into the Corrections Academy and a career with ADOC.

of ACTIVATE Program It is provided to residents through funding from the Alabama State Legislature.

“There are many applicants who want to become well-trained correctional officers and serve our state, but they need extra help to achieve that goal. The ACTIVATE program is a big step toward ensuring their success and the success of Alabama's correctional facilities,” said Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm.

“We are grateful to the Alabama Legislature and the Alabama Community College System for working with us to make this program a reality.”

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“The Alabama Community College System is proactively and responsively responding to the academic training and workforce development needs of the Commonwealth of Alabama. This collaboration with the Department of Corrections is just one example of our efforts to help our residents and state achieve their goals,” said Jimmy H. Baker, chancellor of the Alabama Community College System.

In addition to ACTIVATE, ACCS is providing more than six public safety training classes across the state at no cost to current police officers. Mark Bailey, ACCS chief safety and security officer, says more than 1,200 officers have earned their required continuing education units (CEUs) by taking one-day courses at community and technical colleges across Alabama on topics like basic crime scene investigation, evidence collection fundamentals and crisis negotiation for emergency responders.

The training began in January in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama, the Alabama Fire Protection College, Alabama Law Enforcement and the State Bureau of Investigation.

“With 24 community colleges, we are perfectly positioned to provide convenient training to law enforcement officers in both urban and rural communities across the state of Alabama,” Bailey said.

“These sessions reflect our commitment to proactive and comprehensive training,” said Jay Freeman, Chief of Police and Public Safety at Gadsden State Community College. “These opportunities not only enhance the capabilities of our officers, but also create a safer environment for all.”

For more information about our free training, Public Safety.

Grayson Everett is the state and politics editor for Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. Grayson