Department of Criminal Justice – Core
Competencies Exam
Question 1: What years was the prison system of Texas called “Texas State
Penitentiary”?
A) 1836–1848
B) 1848–1866
C) 1866–1880
D) 1880–1900
Answer: B) 1848–1866
Rationale: Historical records show that the Texas State Penitentiary operated
under this name during the period 1848–1866 before being reorganized.
Question 2: What is the mission of the TDCJ?
A) Punish offenders and maintain strict custody
B) Provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior, reintegrate
offenders, and assist victims
C) Only rehabilitate offenders
D) Reduce costs in prison management
Answer: B) Provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior,
reintegrate offenders, and assist victims
Rationale: The TDCJ’s mission emphasizes a balance of public safety,
rehabilitation, reintegration, and victim support rather than just punishment.
Question 3: Who is responsible for governing the TDCJ?
A) The Warden
B) The Board of Criminal Justice
,C) The Governor
D) The CID Director
Answer: B) The Board of Criminal Justice
Rationale: The TDCJ Board sets policy and oversees all operations, while
wardens and directors manage daily operations.
Question 4: Who oversees the CID?
A) The Warden
B) The CID Director
C) The Parole Officer
D) The Governor
Answer: B) The CID Director
Rationale: The Correctional Institutions Division (CID) is directly overseen by the
CID Director who manages the division’s operations.
Question 5: What does the CID Director manage?
A) Education programs only
B) Prison and state jail operations, management operations, and support operations
C) Only administrative staff
D) Only parole and probation
Answer: B) Prison and state jail operations, management operations, and support
operations
Rationale: The CID Director is responsible for all aspects of facility operations,
including management and support functions.
Question 6: Each section in the CID is overseen by:
A) The Governor
B) A Deputy Director
C) A Sergeant
D) The Warden
,Answer: B) A Deputy Director
Rationale: Each section of the CID has a deputy director who reports to the CID
Director, ensuring proper supervision and coordination.
Question 7: What does CID stand for?
A) Criminal Investigation Department
B) Correctional Institutions Division
C) Correctional Intelligence Department
D) Custody and Institutional Division
Answer: B) Correctional Institutions Division
Rationale: CID is the division of TDCJ responsible for managing all state prisons
and jails.
Question 8: Which facilities do not require a fenced perimeter and are considered
“trusty camps”?
A) Security Level 3
B) Security Level 1
C) Administrative Segregation
D) Security Level 5
Answer: B) Security Level 1
Rationale: Security Level 1 facilities house low-risk offenders who may work
outside without direct supervision and typically do not require fencing.
Question 9: Which type of offenders do Security Level 1 facilities house?
A) G1
B) G2
C) G3
D) G5
Answer: A) G1
Rationale: G1 offenders are minimum custody and low-risk, appropriate for
Security Level 1 “trusty” facilities.
, Question 10: Which level offenders require direct-armed supervision?
A) G1
B) G2
C) G3
D) G5
Answer: C) G3
Rationale: G3 offenders are medium custody and require direct supervision by
armed officers to maintain security.
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Question 11: Which level offenders require indirect or general supervision?
A) G1 and G2
B) G3 and G4
C) G4 and G5
D) All levels
Answer: A) G1 and G2
Rationale: G1 (minimum) and G2 (low) custody offenders are low-risk and
require less supervision compared to higher-risk levels.