The Director of Criminal Justice Programs at the Barton County Community College sought input from Kansas sheriffs regarding the most important competencies of the jail officer. This input helped to develop priorities for the skills, knowledge, and experiences to be included in the curriculum. The resultant curriculum was fitted to the needs of local government agencies and their efforts to reduce liability. The Kansas Department of Corrections was contacted for support and some type of certification, and the course was begun in Barton and Pawnee counties for the spring 1990 semester. The 17 units of the curriculum cover orientation, departmental rules and regulations, introduction to corrections, interpersonal communications, report writing, legal rights of inmates, prisoner visitation, criminal and civil liability of corrections officers, escorting inmates/courtroom security, jail security techniques, fire fighters and safety, cell search and contraband, special-management inmates, defense tactics, practicum, and first aid and CPR. Community College Criminal Justice Program staff teach many of the units, but the sheriffs instruct their own officers on departmental rules and regulations and other local procedures. Other instructors are drawn from various segments of the criminal justice system relevant to the content being taught. 4 footnotes