GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR 11 NEW ADULT CORRECTIONS OFFICERS

HONOLULU — The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) welcomed a new class of 11 new adult corrections officers (ACO) at a graduation ceremony Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at the State Capitol auditorium. The graduates from Basic Corrections Recruit Class (BCRC) 25-05 completed rigorous training and will begin their careers as Adult Corrections Officers at facilities on Oʻahu.

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.

Last year, the department also doubled its recruit classes to six from three to address the staffing shortage at facilities in Hawai‘i.

This year, DCR increased the number of classes to eight — five on O’ahu and three on Hawaiʻi island.

Today’s class is the eighth graduating class of the year.

DCR Director Tommy Johnson said, “We are proud of every graduate in this class. Serving as an adult corrections officer is an honorable position that takes grit, integrity and dedication. All of you represent the next generation of corrections officers and potentially future leaders in corrections field.”

There are approximately 1,150 filled ACO positions and an estimated 370 vacant ACO positions at correctional facilities in Hawaiʻi.

Recruit training comprises 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.

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 11 graduates have been assigned to the following correctional facilities:

• Hālawa Correctional Facility – 4
• Oʻahu Community Correctional Center – 4
• Waiawa Correctional Facility – 2
• Women’s Community Correctional Facility – 1

B-roll and photos of the graduation ceremony, courtesy of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15IOiz9wDC0YzJX4mXAga8eHDVfpMjowd?usp=sharing.

Media contact:
Rosemarie Bernardo
Public Information Officer
Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office: 808-587-1358
Cell: 808-683-5507
Email:[email protected]
Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov