TDCJ CORE COMPETENCIES EXAM
2027/2028 TEST CYCLE|BRAND NEW QUESTION BANK
150 VERIFIED Q & A, WITH EXPERT RATIONALES
GUARANTEED PASS |GRADED A+
Q1: What is the primary mission of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice?
A. To punish offenders harshly without rehabilitation
B. To operate profitable manufacturing businesses
C. To provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior, and reintegrate law-
abiding citizens
D. To focus exclusively on recreational programs for inmates
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The core mission of modern corrections balances public protection through secure
confinement with rehabilitative opportunities aimed at reducing recidivism.
Q2: Which of the following is considered one of the four TDCJ Core Values?
A. Loyalty
B. Perseverance
C. Bravery
D. Honesty
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The four TDCJ Core Values are Perseverance, Integrity, Courage, and Commitment.
These values guide the conduct of all TDCJ employees.
,Q3: What is the primary purpose of an inmate count in a TDCJ facility?
A. To track inmate work performance
B. To verify the presence and location of all inmates for security and accountability
C. To check inmate hygiene
D. To determine parole eligibility
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Counts ensure all inmates are accounted for and in authorized locations. This is a
fundamental security function.
Q4: When conducting an official count, how should an officer verify each inmate?
A. Rely on other staff's verbal confirmation
B. Count the number of occupied beds
C. Visually identify each inmate and compare to the count sheet
D. Use inmate nicknames for faster identification
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Counts require visual confirmation of each inmate against official rosters, not
assumptions or bed counts.
Q5: If an officer's count does not match the control center's count, what is the correct immediate
action?
A. Ignore the discrepancy and continue
B. Change the numbers to match control
C. Ask another inmate to verify
D. Freeze all inmate movement, notify the count room and shift supervisor immediately, and
conduct a supervised re-count
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: TDCJ policy requires immediate notification and movement freeze when a count
discrepancy occurs; re-counts must be supervised and documented.
,Q6: Keys used inside a correctional facility should:
A. Remain under constant control of authorized staff and never be loaned to inmates
B. Be kept in the officer's personal vehicle
C. Be shared with inmate workers for efficiency
D. Be left unattended at posts for quick access
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Key control is critical; keys must be secured and never accessible to inmates.
Unauthorized access to keys creates a severe security breach.
Q7: If an officer drops a set of facility keys in an inmate area and cannot immediately locate
them, what is the first step?
A. Wait until shift change to report it
B. Ask inmates to help search quietly
C. Notify control immediately and follow key emergency procedures
D. Ignore it if no one appeared to see
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lost or compromised keys create a serious security risk; emergency measures must be
implemented at once, including notifying control.
Q8: What is the primary purpose of the "Reactionary Gap" when dealing with an offender?
A. To show dominance in a housing wing
B. To provide the officer enough time to react to a sudden physical threat
C. To allow other officers to see the interaction clearly
D. To prevent the spread of contagious diseases
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Maintaining a gap (typically 6–10 feet) is a fundamental safety competency to prevent
a staff member from being ambushed. It provides reaction time.
, Q9: Which document is used to report an offender's rule violation in TDCJ?
A. I-210 Mental Health Form
B. BIR (Brief Incident Report)
C. I-216 Disciplinary Report
D. I-210 Offender Protection Assessment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The I-216 is the formal instrument used to document and initiate disciplinary action
for rule infractions.
Q10: What does the "S" stand for in the SAFE acronym used during cell searches?
A. Speed
B. Systematic
C. Security
D. Silence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Searches must be Systematic, Accurate, Focused, and Enthusiastic to ensure no
contraband is missed.
Q11: Under the TDCJ Use of Force policy, what is the first level of the force continuum?
A. Chemical Agents
B. Staff Presence
C. Physical Restraint
D. Verbal Commands
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The mere presence of a uniformed officer in a professional manner is the first step in
maintaining order and deterring misconduct.
2027/2028 TEST CYCLE|BRAND NEW QUESTION BANK
150 VERIFIED Q & A, WITH EXPERT RATIONALES
GUARANTEED PASS |GRADED A+
Q1: What is the primary mission of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice?
A. To punish offenders harshly without rehabilitation
B. To operate profitable manufacturing businesses
C. To provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior, and reintegrate law-
abiding citizens
D. To focus exclusively on recreational programs for inmates
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The core mission of modern corrections balances public protection through secure
confinement with rehabilitative opportunities aimed at reducing recidivism.
Q2: Which of the following is considered one of the four TDCJ Core Values?
A. Loyalty
B. Perseverance
C. Bravery
D. Honesty
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The four TDCJ Core Values are Perseverance, Integrity, Courage, and Commitment.
These values guide the conduct of all TDCJ employees.
,Q3: What is the primary purpose of an inmate count in a TDCJ facility?
A. To track inmate work performance
B. To verify the presence and location of all inmates for security and accountability
C. To check inmate hygiene
D. To determine parole eligibility
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Counts ensure all inmates are accounted for and in authorized locations. This is a
fundamental security function.
Q4: When conducting an official count, how should an officer verify each inmate?
A. Rely on other staff's verbal confirmation
B. Count the number of occupied beds
C. Visually identify each inmate and compare to the count sheet
D. Use inmate nicknames for faster identification
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Counts require visual confirmation of each inmate against official rosters, not
assumptions or bed counts.
Q5: If an officer's count does not match the control center's count, what is the correct immediate
action?
A. Ignore the discrepancy and continue
B. Change the numbers to match control
C. Ask another inmate to verify
D. Freeze all inmate movement, notify the count room and shift supervisor immediately, and
conduct a supervised re-count
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: TDCJ policy requires immediate notification and movement freeze when a count
discrepancy occurs; re-counts must be supervised and documented.
,Q6: Keys used inside a correctional facility should:
A. Remain under constant control of authorized staff and never be loaned to inmates
B. Be kept in the officer's personal vehicle
C. Be shared with inmate workers for efficiency
D. Be left unattended at posts for quick access
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Key control is critical; keys must be secured and never accessible to inmates.
Unauthorized access to keys creates a severe security breach.
Q7: If an officer drops a set of facility keys in an inmate area and cannot immediately locate
them, what is the first step?
A. Wait until shift change to report it
B. Ask inmates to help search quietly
C. Notify control immediately and follow key emergency procedures
D. Ignore it if no one appeared to see
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lost or compromised keys create a serious security risk; emergency measures must be
implemented at once, including notifying control.
Q8: What is the primary purpose of the "Reactionary Gap" when dealing with an offender?
A. To show dominance in a housing wing
B. To provide the officer enough time to react to a sudden physical threat
C. To allow other officers to see the interaction clearly
D. To prevent the spread of contagious diseases
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Maintaining a gap (typically 6–10 feet) is a fundamental safety competency to prevent
a staff member from being ambushed. It provides reaction time.
, Q9: Which document is used to report an offender's rule violation in TDCJ?
A. I-210 Mental Health Form
B. BIR (Brief Incident Report)
C. I-216 Disciplinary Report
D. I-210 Offender Protection Assessment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The I-216 is the formal instrument used to document and initiate disciplinary action
for rule infractions.
Q10: What does the "S" stand for in the SAFE acronym used during cell searches?
A. Speed
B. Systematic
C. Security
D. Silence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Searches must be Systematic, Accurate, Focused, and Enthusiastic to ensure no
contraband is missed.
Q11: Under the TDCJ Use of Force policy, what is the first level of the force continuum?
A. Chemical Agents
B. Staff Presence
C. Physical Restraint
D. Verbal Commands
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The mere presence of a uniformed officer in a professional manner is the first step in
maintaining order and deterring misconduct.
