Governor Josh Green, M.D.

 

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA

 

 

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

 

 

TOMMY JOHNSON

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2024

Basic Corrections Recruit Training Graduation Ceremony

 

HONOLULU —The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) welcomed a new class of adult corrections officers (ACO) today, May 10, 2024, at a graduation ceremony at the Mission Memorial Auditorium. Thirteen graduates from Basic Corrections Recruit Class (BCRC) 24-02 completed training and will begin their careers as corrections officers in facilities across the state.

This is the second class of corrections officers that graduated since the department was redesignated as the DCR from the Department of Public Safety (PSD) effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Since its redesignation, the DCR has compressed the recruit training course from 11 weeks to eight weeks while still covering critical training to ensure ACOs are well-prepared for their jobs.

The department also doubled the number of graduating classes, from two to three classes a year to six, to address the staff shortage at facilities in Hawai‘i.

Director Tommy Johnson of the DCR said, “Increasing the number of BCRC classes coupled with the department’s multipronged approach to recruitment is designed to assist the department in filling our many vacancies across all classes of work.”

“This graduating class continues to represent the next generation of correctional officers who are proud to serve and sacrifice for the continued protection of the public we all willingly serve,” Director Johnson added.

The BCRC training course includes more than 300 hours of classroom instruction and physical training. Recruits learn a variety of subjects that include standards of conduct, ethics and professionalism, report writing, interpersonal communications, maintaining security, crisis intervention, security threat groups (gangs), mental health, first aid, use of firearms, and self-defense tactics.

Deputy Director Pamela Sturz of the DCR Correctional Institutions Division said, “We welcome this graduating class with open arms and look forward to the members’ continued learning as they embark upon their career in corrections.”

“It takes an all-team approach to managing our jails and prisons and we are excited to add these staff to our team and encourage others to consider a career both in uniformed and uniformed positions,” Sturz said.

The department’s mission is to provide a secure correctional environment for comprehensive rehabilitative, holistic, wraparound re-entry services including culturally based approaches, to persons sentenced to our custody and care. Our goal is to reduce recidivism and generational incarceration and enhance the safety and security of our communities.

All incoming classes receive Recruit Field Training along with Basic Corrections Training. During the final weeks of training, they go into the facility and begin their job with guidance from their training sergeants.

The 13 graduates have been assigned to the following jail and prison facilities:

 

Hālawa Correctional Facility: 1
Kūlani Correctional Facility 1

Women’s Community Correctional Center 2
Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center 5

Maui Community Correctional Center 1
Oʻahu Community Correctional Center 3

 

 

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Media Contact:

Rosemarie Bernardo

Public Information Officer

Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Office: 808-587-1358

Cell: 808-683-5507

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov