Program Statement 3906.19, Physical and Medical Standards ...

1 ProgramStatement Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons OPI:HRM DATE:9/25/2003 SUBJECT: Physical and MedicalStandards for NewlyHired CorrectionalEmployees1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE. To establish requirements and proceduresfor ensuring that individuals hired for correctional lawenforcement positions are physically able and medically qualifiedto perform correctional work safely and all positions in correctional institutions are hazardousduty law enforcement officer positions, all employees areresponsible for maintaining security in the event of anemergency. To ensure that staff are hired who are able toaccomplish this objective, the Bureau has developed a validatedand job-related Physical Ability Testing Program .

2 Industrialpsychologists, who are subject matter experts in this area,developed this Program . It was also field-tested for over 18months and cross-validated to ensure Physical ability test replaces the Physical EfficiencyBattery formerly in place at the Staff Training Academy (STA)located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC ) , Glynco, Georgia. This is the third pass/fail component of the Introduction to Correctional Techniques Program (ICT).This Program meets the intent of the Americans with DisabilitiesAct of 1990, and the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of1973, as SUMMARY OF CHANGES. The Directives and Standards Referencedsections have been updated. Formatting changes were also made. 3. Program OBJECTIVE. The expected result of this Program is:Staff recently employed in Bureau law enforcement positions will be retained by demonstrating the Physical ability to performessential job 24.

3 DIRECTIVES AFFECTED a. Directive RescindedPS and Medical Standards for NewlyHired Correctional Employees (3/5/99) b. Directives Referenced PS Resource Management Manual (11/1/93)PS Development Manual (3/21/97) PS Services Manual (9/15/96)5. Standards REFERENCED a. American Correctional Association 2nd Edition Standards forAdministration of Correctional Agencies: 2-CO-1E-19. b. American Correctional Association 4th Edition Standards forAdult Correctional Institutions: 4-4062. c. American Correctional Association 3rd Edition Standards forAdult Local Detention Facilities: 3-ALDF-1C-13 6. EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO PASS THE Physical ABILITY TEST. Thephysical ability test is administered to all individuals hired tofill positions in an institution. This includes applicants who have received a conditionaloffer of employment, as well as Central Office, RegionalOffice, and Staff Training Center employees who have neverattended a Staff Training Academy but intend to be assignedto a field position.

4 If a non-law enforcement employee in the Central Office, aRegional Office, or a Staff Training Center has not attendedand passed the ICT within three years prior to the entranceon duty date to a field position, he or she is required tocomplete the ICT. Before an applicant is extended a conditional offer ofemployment, the Human Resource representative will providethe applicant a detailed written description of the physicalability test, as well as a video, to preview. This videowill be shown either immediately before or after the writingsample video during pre-employment 3 Before a status employee from the Central or RegionalOffices, or Training Center travels to Glynco, he or shewill be given a detailed written description of the physicalability test and an opportunity to view a video of the SITE OF TEST. The Physical ability test is administered toemployees within the first 48 hours after their arrival in Glyncoas part of the Medical SCREENING.

5 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, asamended, prohibits the solicitation of Medical information priorto a conditional offer of employment that may reveal or lead todisclosure of a disability. An individual s Medical screening and Physical abilitytesting may be administered only after a conditional offerof employment has been Medical screening, a Bureau Medical officer will assess whether the individual is physically able to travel to Glynco andperform the Physical components (self defense, firearms, andphysical ability test) safely. If it is medically determined the applicant cannot fulfillthe Physical requirements for the position successfully,employment consideration ceases and the applicant isnotified. If a Medical condition is deemed temporary, the applicantmay request reconsideration for employment at a later date. Pregnant applicants may not be denied employment solely onthe basis of their , applicants who pass the initial Medical screening atthe hiring site, will be sent to Glynco to participate in theICT within 60 days after entrance-on-duty.

6 However, a cursoryscreening by a Medical professional, immediately before departureto Glynco, will be required for final clearance to ensure thereare no acute conditions present which would precludeparticipation in the Physical components. If the FLETC physician at Glynco excludes the employee fromany or all of the Physical components based on a pre-existing condition, the employee must be returned to his orher institution and his or her employment 4 Individuals for whom the FLETC physician excludes from anyor all of the Physical components based on a conditionsustained after employment with the Bureau will be returnedto the institution, but retained until the condition nolonger precludes their participation in the , employees will be required to return to Glynco and complete the ICT successfully prior to concluding his or herprobationary/trial period.

7 In the rare event an employee's Medical condition preventshis or her return to Glynco prior to the conclusion of theprobationary/trial period, the Assistant Director, HumanResource Management Division, must be notified. The notification will be from the Warden through theRegional Director and provide a prognosis for the employee'sreturn to Glynco to complete the ICT successfully. Successful completion of the Physical components is acondition of employment even if the employee exceeds his orher probationary/trial period. Pregnant employees must be waived from traveling to Glyncoto participate in ICT until after they have been medicallycleared to participate in self defense, firearms, and thephysical ability test programs at Glynco. a. Medical Requirements. The applicant must have at least20/30 vision with or without correction.

8 If only one eye ispresent or functional, the examining health care practitionerwill determine if an applicant can perform the Physical abilitytest, the firearms component, and the self-defense component atthe training center safely.(1) Eye Color Acuity. Eye color acuity is not required forprimary correctional positions. For those positions requiringeye color acuity ( , electricians) the applicant must pass anapproved eye color acuity test. All applicants will be tested for eye coloracuity.(2) Hearing. The applicant must be capable of hearingconversational voice, with or without a hearing aid, in at leastone ear, as measured by normal findings in the decibel ranges of500, 1000, and 2000. This determination is made via a hearingbooth 5(3) Mental/Emotional Stability. The applicant must displaymental and emotional stability. The examining health carepractitioner will evaluate mental and emotional stability basedupon a thorough Medical /psychiatric history as well as a currentmedical/psychiatric examination .

9 Any history of psychiatric hospitalizations andoutpatient psychiatric treatments will beconsidered when evaluating an applicant's mentalhealth.(4) Active Diseases. Active diseases that are infectiousand may be spread by routine means, such as handshakes, skincontact, and breathing, preclude an applicant from employment. Once this disease is cured or the examining healthcare practitioner considers it to be no longerinfectious, the applicant may be considered disease processes or conditions cannot, solely on thebasis of the existence of such process, disease, condition,impairment or disability, exclude an otherwise qualifiedapplicant from consideration for employment ( , HIV positive,AIDS, cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease, and loss orinjury of one or more limbs).(5) Disability. History of a disease, Medical condition,or impairment, particularly if deemed a permanent "disability,"cannot, solely on the basis of the existence of such disease,condition, or impairment, exclude an otherwise qualifiedapplicant from consideration for employment.

10 If the applicant is otherwise qualified and can,with or without reasonable accommodation, performthe essential functions of the position, thephysical ability test, the firearms component, andthe self-defense component at Glynco safely, thenthe individual may be considered for employment. b. Situational Examples. The following situational examples provide guidance to health care providers when conductingphysical examinations. If an otherwise qualified applicant:(1)Is HIV positive or has AIDS, and is able toperform the Physical ability test, the firearmscomponent, and the self-defense component at theBureau-designated training center safely, theapplicant may be considered for 6(2)Has active epilepsy that is medically controlled(with or without medication), and is able to perform the Physical ability test, the firearmscomponent, and the self-defense component at theBureau-designated training center safely, theapplicant may be considered for employment.