HONOLULU - The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) welcomed a new class of adult corrections officers (ACO) today, June 21, 2024, at a graduation ceremony at the Mission Memorial Auditorium. Eighteen graduates from Basic Corrections Recruit Class (BCRC) 24-03 completed training and will begin their careers as corrections officers in facilities across Hawai?i.

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

Since the redesignation, the DCR 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.

DCR Director Tommy Johnson said, “We continue our efforts to fill the many Adult Correction Officer vacancies. This graduating class (BCRC 24-03) will help fill those vacancies.”

Currently, there are nearly 400 vacant ACO positions of the estimated 1,500 authorized ACO positions.

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.

DCR Correctional Institutions Division Deputy Director Pamela Sturz said, “Every staff member brings different life experiences to our workforce, which helps mold our future with both seasoned staff and those with a fresh set of eyes. Together, there are endless possibilities for growth of our department.”

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

H?lawa Correctional Facility: 6

Women’s Community Correctional Center: 3
Hawai?i Community Correctional Center 4

Maui Community Correctional Center: 1
O?ahu Community Correctional Center: 4