The state is seeking 2,000 to 4,000 new officers to work in California's 33 prisons. But officials say one drawback has been getting recruits to participate in months of training far from home. This year they've been trying something different. Jenny O'Mara reports.
State officials say they have high hopes for recruiting more corrections officers through some junior college programs. State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman Bill Sessa says it used to be the only training was the 16-week course offered at the Department's facility near Sacramento.
Bill Sessa: It's especially hard say if you live in Southern California to be away from your family for sixteen weeks so we've actually been exporting our training academy to other parts of the state. We currently have a program through junior colleges in Fresno and Santa Rosa and Susanville.
Union officials with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association had raised concerns about training standards in programs outside the corrections academy but have said reports from the field have so far been positive about the new recruits.
