Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 31 - Public Safety
Part 9 - REGULATION REGARDING THE LICENSURE OF JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES
Chapter 1 - General Application of Regulations, Administration And Management, Training And Supervision of Staff
Rule 31-9-1.23 - Staff Professional Development and Training

1. Professional development shall consist of organized, evaluated activity designed to achieve specific learning objectives. Professional development may occur through workshops, seminars, staff meetings or through closely supervised on-the-job training. Although any on-the-job training shall not count toward the hours of required training.

2. Each facility shall have written policies and procedures governing orientation and ongoing in-service training. Written policies, procedures, and actual practices ensure that all categories of personnel meet juvenile detention training requirements. Training for staff with youth care and supervision duties includes an 8-hour orientation for instruction on basic juvenile detention officer standard operating procedures and restraint, de-escalation and crisis management training prior to assuming any job duties.

3. Training for staff with youth care and supervision duties includes an additional 120 hours of training during the first year of employment through a course known as the Basic Jail Officer's Standardized Training Course, and 40 hours annually thereafter. All juvenile detention training is approved, not necessarily provided, by the licensing authority.

4. Facility staff receive annual training on policies and practices regarding:

5. Facility administrators determine training appropriate for any other contractors who come into the facility.

6. All new medical and mental health professionals who provide services at the detention facility receive an immediate basic orientation prior to any patient contact that covers, at a minimum, relevant security and health services policies and procedures, response to facility emergency situations, the staff member's functional position description, and youth-staff relationships. Completion of the orientation program is documented and kept on file.

7. Within 90 days of employment, all health and mental health professionals who provide services at the detention facility complete an orientation that includes, at a minimum, all health services policies not addressed in basic orientation, health and age-specific needs of the youth population, infection control, including the use of universal safety precautions, and confidentiality of records and health information. Completion of the orientation program is documented and kept on file.

8. If the facility relies on health staff who are not mental health professionals to provide any mental health service otherwise permitted by state law, the responsible mental health authority for the facility approves such staff, and ensures that they have received adequate training in identifying and interacting with individuals in need of mental health services.

9. If the facility relies on facility staff to perform the health screening at the time of admission, adequate instruction in conducting the admission screen is required.

10. Training personnel shall incorporate recommendations and complaints from youth, parents, staff, management, quality assurance personnel, and others into training plans and curricula.

11. If the facility uses cameras or other video technology, the technology is used to supplement, not replace, direct staff supervision.