Court Officer Academy Student Court Officer Manual: Performance Assessment and Testing/Examinations

Performance assessment and testing/examinations guidelines for the Massachusetts Trial Court Officer Academy.

Performance Assessment and Testing

Successful completion of the Academy is a condition of employment for Court Officers. The Chief Court Officer will be responsible for developing performance assessments and testing procedures to evaluate the attainment of course goals and objectives. As part of this process, a series of academic exams and performance assessments will be administered to test the comprehension level of Student Court Officers. Comprehensive academic exams will be scheduled by the Academic Coordinator, who will ensure that sufficient notice is provided. Non-scored quizzes may be scheduled by a course instructor at their discretion.

If a Student Court Officer has a learning disability, they are required to produce medical documentation describing the learning disability to the Academic Coordinator in order for the Academy, in consultation with the Trial Court Human Resources Department, to determine the ability of the Academy to provide the appropriate support and assistance for academics. Failure to report a learning disability to the Academic Coordinator prior to the beginning of the academic curriculum may result in dismissal from the Academy.

Physical Fitness

The Massachusetts Trial Security Department conducts a physical fitness assessment prior to the beginning of each Academy Class to ensure that Student Court Officers have a reasonable level of physical fitness in order to safely and fully participate in the Academy. There are four components that compose the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA). They include a timed mile and half run, a timed 300-meter run, and a timed sit-up and push-up test. Standards for successful completion of this assessment are based on data prepared by the Cooper Institute from a longitudinal study related to physical fitness levels. The Trial Court utilizes the 30th percentile as a passing criteria for the assessment.

This assessment will normally occur during the orientation for the Academy, or at a time in accordance with the Academy schedule as directed by the Academy Director. The purpose of this assessment is to determine that Student Court Officers have a sufficient fitness level to safely and regularly participate in the Academy physical training regimen without undue risk of injury or inability to fully participate in the Academy.

Student Court Officers that do not meet or exceed the 30th percentile standard shall not be admitted to the Academy but remain eligible for reinstatement to a future Academy class at the discretion of the Director of Security.

Student Court Officers must fully participate in a minimum of 70% of physical training sessions to meet the physical fitness requirement for Academy graduation. Modifications and non-participations are determined by the lead physical training instructor for that day and will be recorded on the Nonparticipant/Modified PT Record.

Non-participation is defined by the following conditions:

1. The Student Court Officer is assigned to alternate exercise due to illness or injury.
2. The Student Court Officer is absent from the Academy for any reason.
3. The Student Court Officer displays less than full effort in daily exercise routines.

Non-participation days cannot be made up. A determination of modified or non-participation status may be appealed by a Student Court Officer by submitting a To/From Memo to the Group Liaison within 24-hours of the training session in question who forwards it to the Assigned Regional Director. The decision of the Regional Director is final.

The Massachusetts Trial Court Security Department is committed to providing a safe training environment, and that Student Court Officer safety and well-being is the principal focus for all Academy Staff.

Student Court Officers should be prepared for up to daily workouts to consist of, but not limited to, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), weightlifting, and running. Runs will average 30 minutes and vary in design to include;

1. Long distance formation runs
2. Individual pace runs
3. Short distance sprints
4. Formation interval sprints (ladder sprints)

Examinations

Student Court Officers who achieve a score less than 70% will be required to take a remedial examination.

70% or higher to pass  Student Court Officers must achieve a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to pass an examination.

• Failure to receive a passing score of 70% or higher on the remedial examination will be cause for a recommendation for dismissal from the Court Officer Academy.
• Failure on any two (2) examinations may be cause for a recommendation for dismissal from the Court Officer Academy. Any Student Court Officer who fails to achieve a minimum passing score on any first-time exam may receive remedial training, prior to the administration of a remedial exam.
• Provided the Student Court Officer passes the remedial exam, the average of the initial exam score and the remedial exam score will be used in calculating the Student Court Officer’s overall academic score. Both scores will be kept on file.
• Student Court Officers will be offered academic remediation after each test failure and at any time Trial Court Academy Staff Instructors identify a need. The purpose of academic remediation is to identify obstacles to success and develop corrective strategies. Academic remediation may include both verbal and written assistance. All remediation sessions will be documented by the Academic Coordinator.

Make-up Examinations

Student Court Officers who miss an examination due to an authorized absence will arrange for a make-up examination through the Academic Coordinator or immediately upon return to the Academy.

Other Testing

All quizzes, scored reports, practical exercises, or any other scored event must be completed to the satisfaction of the instructor. Student Court Officers must pass practical exercises or skills testing to graduate from the Court Officer Academy. The following practical’s, skills and scenarios are scored as Pass/Fail:

• Defensive Tactics Proficiency
• Handcuffing
• Ground Defense
• OC Spray
• CPR Skills
• First Responder Skills
• Screening Station
• Suicide Prevention and Intervention
• Applied Court Procedures

Student Court Officers failing to perform satisfactorily will be offered remediation and will be retested. Failure to perform satisfactorily may be cause for dismissal from the Academy.

A Student Court Officer must successfully complete all training and testing to graduate from the Court Officer Academy

Final Average and Class Standing

The final overall average determines class standing of each Student Court Officer and determines seniority within the class post-graduation and successful completion of the Field Training Program.

The final average is determined utilizing the following formula as outlined below:

An equal weight of examination final scores in the following subjects:

• Weekly Exams
• Final Exam
• CPR Exam
• First Responder Exam
• PREA Test
• OC Exam
• Use of Force Exam

Medical Deferments

Student Court Officers attending the Court Officer Academy may be granted a deferment to a future Academy by the Director of Security in the event the newly appointed Student Court Officer is incapable of participating in or completing all aspects of the Academy due to a medical condition. In the event a Student Court Officer voluntarily withdraws or is dismissed from the Academy and their appointment is rescinded by the Trial Court due to the inability to complete training requirements for medical reasons, the Student Court Officer may apply to the Director of Security for deferment and reinstatement in a future Court Officer Academy. Student Court Officers will be awarded no more than one (1) medical deferment.

A medical deferment may be approved by the Director of Security in cases where the dismissal or voluntary withdrawal is due solely to a medical condition that is supported by documentation from a licensed medical provider.

To qualify for a medical deferment, the individual must provide the office of the Director of Security medical documentation from a licensed medical provider within 3 business days to include the day of dismissal. Initial medical documentation must first document the medical condition preventing the officer from participating in the academy. To be considered for reinstatement subsequent medical documentation must indicate that the individual is capable of performing the functions of the court officer position to include all facets of the training curriculum. This documentation must reference that fact that the medical provider has reviewed the job description and Academy curriculum to include the health and wellness guide that governs the physical training regimen. These materials are available on the Trial Court Security Department website. Medical documentation indicating the individual is physically capable of completing all aspects of the Academy must be received by the Trial Court Security Department prior to any offer of reinstatement. Reinstatement is contingent on the requester’s successful completion of a PFA prior to assignment to an Academy Class. Like all Student Court Officers, individuals assigned to an Academy class under this policy must participate in and successfully complete all aspects of Academy training in its entirety for graduation and retention as a court officer.

Reinstatement by medical deferment is at the discretion of the Director of Security and may be denied for any reason. Applicants are advised that consideration for reinstatement may be delayed due to the unavailability of a scheduled training class. Where reinstatement has been approved by the Director of Security, rehire and placement in an Academy may be subject to delays and limitations by such factors as manpower hiring limits, the availability and location of existing vacancies, administrative processing requirements, and Academy class scheduling and size constraints.

Documentation can be scanned/sent to [e-mail] and a number available to call for assistance or notification of any issues pertaining to the medical deferment process is [phone].

Personal Deferment

1. Student Court Officers may submit a formal written request to the Director of Security for consideration for a deferment to a future Academy class if they encounter a personal hardship during Academy training that would result in them violating participation standards. The Student Court Officer is required to meet with the Group Liaison for assistance in this matter as soon as possible. An example for consideration would be a Student Court Officer suffering from the loss of an immediate family member during the Academy in which bereavement leave would extend beyond what is permitted within the parameters of participation standards.
2. All approved deferments require Student Court Officers to repeat any and all phases of training, as well as the current hiring process in place at the time of reinstatement.
3. Reinstatement by personal deferment is at the discretion of the Director of Security and may be denied for any reason. Where reinstatement has been approved by the Director of Security, rehire and placement in an academy may be subject to delays and limitations by such factors as manpower hiring limits, the availability and location of existing vacancies, administrative processing requirements, and academy class scheduling and size constraints.

Date published:	January 2, 2023