GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR 12 NEW ADULT CORRECTIONS OFFICERS

HONOLULU — The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) welcomed a new class of 12 adult corrections officers (ACO) at a graduation ceremony Friday, May 16, 2025, at the State Capitol auditorium. The graduates from Basic Corrections Recruit Class (BCRC) 25-02 completed training and will begin their careers as Adult Corrections Officers in facilities across the state.

This is the second class of the year that graduated from recruit training.

Since DCR was redesignated from the Department of Public Safety in January 2024, the department compressed its recruit training course to eight weeks from 11 weeks while still covering critical training to ensure ACOs are well-prepared for their jobs.

The department also increased the number of graduating classes to address the staffing shortage at facilities in Hawai‘i. This year, DCR also started holding recruit training on Hawaiʻi island.

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Tommy Johnson said, “We are proud of every graduate who completed the rigorous training course, a testament to their determination and will.”

“These graduates represent a new generation of adult corrections officers and some of them may be the correctional leaders of the future,” Director Johnson added.

Recruit training comprises of 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’s mission is to provide a secure correctional environment for comprehensive rehabilitative, holistic, wraparound reentry services including culturally based approaches to individuals sentenced to our custody and care. Our goal is to reduce recidivism 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 where they begin their jobs with guidance from their training sergeants.

The 12 graduates have been assigned to the following jails and prisons:

• Hālawa Correctional Facility: 3
• Oʻahu Community Correctional Center: 3
• Waiawa Correctional Facility: 1
• Women’s Community Correctional Center: 5

Please visit the following link for photos and videos of the BCRC graduation: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MXm6MKuzhnCh85g0BTVwGvVF61Pah1iU?usp=sharing

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