GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS | CERT AND TACT UNITS

Correctional Emergency Response Team • MISSION • To maintain well-trained and highly motivated units, ready to • mobilize upon command and move quickly to restore law and • Rutledge State Prison order within facilities and assist all departmental staff with daily • organizations and operations of the facilities. • • OVERVIEW • • 28 CERT teams • • Traditional team has 5 members (team leader or Sergeant • and four Correctional Officers) • Team size may be increased at level five facilities REQUIREMENTS • Outfitted in gray battle dress uniforms with untraditional • POST certified employee in a security position with the patches rank of Correctional Officer I • Receives extensive training on managing non-compliant • Must successfully complete the Special Operations Physi- offenders in day to day facility operations cal Fitness Test (push-ups and sit-ups for a duration of 2 • Receives advanced training in cell extractions, chemi- minutes and a 2 mile run) with a minimum score of 60 cal munitions, less lethal escorts and transports, offender percent according to the Army Physical Fitness Testing searches, interview and interrogation techniques, intelli- standards gence gathering and Security Threat Groups • Successfully qualify with their duty weapon with a mini- • Conducts shakedowns mum score of 80 percent on the Georgia Double Action • Shakedown is an unannounced procedure conducted to Course detect and prevent the introduction of contraband, • Endure a formal review board prevent escapes and other disturbances and discover • Members must maintain physical fitness and firearms hazards to health or safety that may go unnoticed standards during a routine inspection • Attend certificate training sessions • On call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week TRAINING • 28 Teams in the DOC: Special Operations Basic Course • • 40 hour basic course • Augusta State Medical Prison • Physical and demanding training • Autry State Prison • Classes administered: • • Defensive Tactics • Burruss Correctional Training Center • Chemical Agents and Less Lethal Munitions • • Drill and Ceremony • • Squad Formations • • Mobile Field Force • • Cell Extractions • • Intelligence Gathering • Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (2 teams) • Auto Pistol Transition • • Advanced firearms course • • Successfully qualifies and transitions each member from • the standard departmental issued duty weapon 38 revolver • Lee State Prison to the Glock • • The Glock is the preferred duty weapon Tactical Squads • Southeast Probation Tactical Team MISSION • Southwest Probation Tactical Team To maintain well-trained and highly motivated units, ready to • Telfair State Prison mobilize upon command and move quickly to restore law and • Valdosta State Prison order to disturbed facilities and assist outside law enforcement. • Ware State Prison • Washington State Prison OVERVIEW • Wilcox State Prison • 30 squads • 23 based at facilities REQUIREMENTS • 2 statewide tactical squads (Cobra Units) • POST certified employee in a security position who ranks • 5 regional Probation Operations Tactical teams from Correctional Officer I to Lieutenant/Probation Officer • 11 members (Cobra exception with 12 members) to Chief • Outfitted in black battle dress uniforms with untraditional • Must successfully complete the Special Operations Physical patches Fitness Test (push-ups and sit-ups for a duration of 2 min- • Receives extensive training on riot and crowd control, utes and a 2 mile run) with a minimum score of 60 percent firearms, chemical munitions, and other less than lethal according to the Army Physical Fitness Testing standards munitions • Successfully qualify with their duty weapon with a mini- • Highly scrutinized to guarantee they have the proper per- mum score of 80 percent on the Georgia Double Action sonnel in place to carry out the highly difficult tasks Course • Responsible for hostage rescue • Endure a formal review board • Conducts shakedowns • Members must maintain physical fitness and firearms • Shakedown is an unannounced procedure conducted to standards detect and prevent the introduction of contraband, • Attend certificate training sessions prevent escapes and other disturbances and discover TRAINING hazards to health or safety that may go unnoticed Special Operations Basic Course during a routine inspection re to follow instructions • 40 hour basic course • Assists in local community during disasters such as: torna- • Physical and demanding training dos, hurricanes and floods • Classes administered: • On call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week • Defensive Tactics • Squads in the DOC: • Chemical Agents and Less Lethal Munitions • Augusta State Medical Prison • Drill and Ceremony • Autry State Prison • Squad Formations • Baldwin State Prison • Mobile Field Force • Central Probation Tactical Team • Cell Extractions • Coastal State Prison • Intelligence Gathering • Cobra Unit 1 (Statewide Tactical Squad) • Cobra Unit 2 (Statewide Tactical Squad) Auto Pistol Transition • Dodge State Prison • Advanced firearms course • Dooly State Prison • Successfully qualifies and transitions each member from • Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison the standard departmental issued duty weapon 38 revolver • Georgia State Prison (houses 2 Tactical Squads) to the Glock • Hancock State Prison • The Glock is the preferred duty weapon • Hays State Prison (houses 2 Tactical Squads) Judgmental Use of Deadly Force • Johnson State Prison • Advanced firearms course • Lee/Calhoun State Prison (combined with members • Teaches judgment when deciding on when to shoot and from both facilities but is housed at Lee State Prison) when not to shoot while utilizing the Glock • Macon State Prison • Northeast Probation Tactical Team • Northwest Probation Tactical Team • Phillips State Prison • Rutledge State Prison • Smith State Prison 1/2015