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James Branch, Commander
5601 West Trails End Rd.
Tucson, Arizona 85745
(520) 623-5832
ABOUT COTA
The Arizona Department of Corrections Training Academy (C.O.T.A.) is located on 40
acres in the western foothills of Tucson, Arizona, west of Interstate 10. Visitors
and students can reach the Academy using the I-10 exits at Speedway, Grant or Camino
Del Cerro/Ruthrauff. Please connect to the DIRECTIONS link below for directions.
C.O.T.A. provides all pre-service training for Correctional Officers and serves
as a state-wide training facility for in-service training including Tactical
Services Unit training, Professional Development Program, Caseworker Academy,
Sergeant’s Leadership Academy, K-9 Academy and other special programs.
C.O.T.A. is a vital resource at the local, state and national level for the
law enforcement and private community, providing classroom and meeting space,
as well as lodging. Twice yearly, COTA hosts a nine week K-9 academy.
Department staff are experts in the field and train dual purpose canines
(drug detection and handler protection) and Officer Handlers for Corrections,
Sheriff and Police agencies from all over Arizona. COTA has hosted
Spanish Immersion training for law enforcement officers from all over
the country. COTA provides facilities for the U.S. Federal Probation
Self Defense Training program and the Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Impact Weapons/Baton, Criminal Investigations Annual Officer Training and
their Southern Arizona District Meetings. The past two years we provided
classrooms, facilities and lodging available for the Drug Education
for Youth (DEFY) camp, a joint initiative of the U.S. Military and
local law enforcement agencies.
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The COTA Campus
The campus is a fully equipped state wide training center with buildings for educational and residential use.
Recently COTA remodeled 32 rooms to hotel standards. Using inmate labor
and a small investment these upgrades have saved substantial state funds.
State employees on travel status now stay at COTA at no cost. Guests may
also eat at the academy at a much lower cost than daily per diem.
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COTA has an auditorium with a seating capacity of 160. There are
seven full sized classrooms, two seminar rooms that can
accommodate 40 meeting participants each, and a full sized
computer learning center with 14 work stations for students.
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There is a gymnasium, and exercise facility as well as a one acre grass
field and paved running track available for cadets, instructors and
lodging guests. Instructors have access to the Internet, and their
e-mail, from a Computer center.
COTA also has 195 rooms for residential Cadets and Class Advisors. Each
Cadet dorm has a dayroom with TV and seating for group meetings and
study. Residents are provided three meals daily in a modern dining
facility offering a varied menu that Cadets residing on the campus are
housed in student dormitories. They are provided three meals daily
in a modern dining facility offering a varied menu that includes a
full soup and salad bar.
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State-of-the-Art COTA Academy
COTA has a Prison Simulator wing on campus and it continues to expand. It is
comprised of a fully furnished 6 bed inmate dorm, a property room, a
detention cell and a standard inmate cell. The recent additions include
a Main Control room and a sally-port with a walk-through scanner and
electric gate. The wing is used for practical hands-on training and
role-plays in a realistic prison setting. The Prison Simulator has
a sound system that plays recordings made at the Arizona State Prison
Complex at Eyman in Florence, Arizona. COTA training staff take on
the role of inmates and they wear actual inmate clothing with
simulated I.D.'s. This lends to the authenticity of the replicated
prison environment.
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A new cadet class starts almost every Monday at the COTA location.
The Academy also has regional locations operating at the
Perryville Prison Complex as well as floating alternate
locations. COTA classes typically have 35-45 students.
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The Training Bureau Administrator is located at the academy and manages
a total of 56 full time academy and in-service personnel. COTA
staff operates both the Tucson and regional academies as well as
provide support for in-service training, agency wide departmental
meetings and seminars, outside agency training and special
initiatives. In-service training staff is located throughout the
state at each prison complex, the academy and Phoenix Central Office.
Academy staff is comprised of uniformed and non-uniformed
specialties that provide classroom teaching, curriculum design and
development, administrative support, purchasing, facility and hotel
coordination, physical plant maintenance, personnel services,
command oversight, instructor scheduling and support, payroll
services and health and nursing needs. Inmates from a low custody
level facility provide maintenance and hotel cleaning support. This
outside work crew is monitored by a full time Correctional Officer.
Instructors from ADC facilities around the state provide instruction
in the classroom to supplement in-house trainers and bring subject
matter expertise as well as a connection to our prison institutions
throughout Arizona.
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The academy is 9 weeks long. Generally, we have up to 8 different academy
classes running at any given time, with a new class starting and one
graduating each week. Cadets look forward to educational challenges
during their time at COTA as well as a unique opportunity to bond
with other Correctional professionals and develop the esprit de corps
so important to a team oriented profession like Corrections. We also
accept cadets into the program from county jails and detention centers
around the state. Cadets are assessed in six primary areas.
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The Academic portion is composed of education and skill building
in nine functional areas including Ethics and Professionalism; Inmate
Management; Legal Issues; Communication; Officer Safety; Applied Skills;
Security, Custody and Control; Conflict and Crisis Management and Medical and
Mental Health Issues. Cadets must pass a weekly academic exam with a minimum
grade of 70%.
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Each cadet is required to participate in a physical fitness and wellness program
consisting of aerobic, muscular and flexibility conditioning. Cadets must
meet the 50th percentile level of physical fitness, as based on the Canadian
standard of fitness.
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Each cadet must demonstrate their ability to safely and accurately use
the 9mm Glock, ADC service shotgun and 37 mm gas gun.
They must complete coursework in firearms use, target identification and discrimination, chemical agents and use of force.
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Each Class participates in several simulated Designated Armed Response
Team drill. The academy has a fully outfitted DART locker and
cadet’s practice techniques using inert weapons against inmate role-players.
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Cadets receive instruction in and practice the application of unarmed
self-defense techniques. Cadets must demonstrate satisfactory
proficiency in this area, per a Standard rater’s guide.
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Cadets are expected to learn and model professional behavior. Emphasis in placed
on exemplary dress, grooming and uniform maintenance as well
as a positive attitude and active participation in learning
activities. Cadets absorb the professional standards of the
department through instruction and role modeling. Their
behavior is observed, assessed and guided by staff.
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Cadets are introduced to the ADC Code of Ethics. They learn that
cadets (and Correctional Officers) are honest and do not lie or
cheat. Cadets are actively encouraged to develop lasting bonds
and friendships with their classmates at the Academy because we
believe teamwork is so critical to success in Corrections. As
part of encouraging this spirit of camaraderie, they are educated
about the cultural diversity of the ADC workforce. They learn
that ADC values diversity and that there is a zero tolerance for
any acts or displays of discrimination.
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Cadets participate in a formal graduation ceremony upon successful completion
of the Academy. They are awarded their badges and sworn to the Correctional Officer pledge:
I do solemnly swear that I will uphold the constitution and laws
of the United States of America and the State of Arizona, that I
will perform faithfully and honorably the duties of the Correctional
Officer and will accept, without reservation, the responsibility
and trust placed in me by the Department of Corrections and my
fellow corrections professionals.
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