§ 551a. Law enforcement powers of correctional officers; training requirements

(a) The Commissioner of Corrections shall establish training requirements necessary for a correctional officer to be authorized to exercise the power to arrest a person on probation under section 301 of this title, to arrest a person serving supervised community sentence under section 363 of this title, or to arrest a person on parole under section 551 of this title. The required training shall include training in search and seizure, criminal law, authority to arrest, use of force, reporting and record keeping, and liability for actions and conduct.

(b) The Commissioner may also authorize and designate any correctional officer as defined in subdivision 3(10) of this title to become certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council as a law enforcement officer pursuant to the provisions of 20 V.S.A. chapter 151. The Commissioner and the Executive Director of the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council shall develop curriculum subject to the approval of the Council. The Commissioner by Department policy may prescribe the use of those law enforcement powers consistent with the official duties and job descriptions of the correctional officer, and may direct that the correctional officer not carry any weapon while on duty. Any person hereby certified shall be sworn by the Commissioner. (Added 1997, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2013, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 21, eff. July 1, 2015.)