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Criminal Justice Academy urges pay, staffing and facility changes after training surge and misconduct reports
Summary
The Criminal Justice Training Academy reported strong throughput and online training but told the Ways and Means subcommittee it saw 260 misconduct allegations and is seeking salary step increases, higher starting pay and capital funds for dorm and facility upgrades.
The Criminal Justice Training Academy told the Ways and Means Criminal Justice Subcommittee it is processing large cohorts of trainees but faces retention and misconduct challenges while seeking a multi-part budget package.
Presenter Jackie Swindler said the academy runs classes every two weeks with cohorts of about 35–50 and offers extensive online instruction, noting “we pushed out about a 170,000 units of training over the Internet” to supplement in-person classes. She told the committee the academy “net 927 new officers” into the field this cycle but also reported “260 misconduct allegations,” a figure she said has required the agency to use its statutory misconduct processes to suspend and adjudicate officers.
Swindler described several fiscal priorities: a law-enforcement step-increase to reward longevity and correct compression; an increase to the minimum starting salary to improve recruitment; transferring positions currently paid from operational/fines-and-fees accounts to the general fund (net zero) to stabilize benefits; and targeted raises for civilian administrative staff. She also listed capital requests including partial funding to renovate the academy’s East Dorm and mechanic-shop and to replace a building used for simulation training.
On disciplinary oversight, Swindler explained the statutory process: an agency head must report alleged misconduct to the training authority, a hearing officer runs proceedings, and the training council issues final decisions. On hearings, she said a minority of officers request formal hearings and that a substantial share of cases that proceed are sustained.
Committee members asked about the academy’s total dollar ask and funding options; staff replied the submitted total was “around $2,000,000” but that exact needs depended on choices among competing priorities and whether certain requests were combined. The presentation closed with chair and member appreciation for the academy’s training work.
The subcommittee took no formal votes on the requests during the hearing; members said they would continue deliberations in follow-up meetings.
