Ninety-eight recruits graduated on August 15, 2025, officially becoming Jamaica’s newest Correctional Officers and marking the 86th Intake of New Entrant Officers into the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).

The cohort, comprising 51 women and 47 men, began training on March 10 at the Carl Rattray Staff College in Runaway Bay, St. Ann. Over five months, they completed classroom instruction and fieldwork before meeting the standards required for service.

As part of their development, recruits completed six weeks of field attachment at one of three adult correctional institutions: Tower Street, St. Catherine District, and South Camp.

As part of their development, recruits completed six weeks of field attachment at one of three adult correctional institutions: Tower Street, St. Catherine District, and South Camp. The curriculum focused on equipping them with key competencies, including inmate rehabilitation, correctional procedures, search and security techniques, communication systems, and professional conduct. Training also covered defensive tactics, offender health and safety, ward management, operational drills, human rights standards, such as the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Offenders, and responsible weapon handling.

The programme, normally 22 weeks, was extended this year to allow the recruits to participate in the 2025 Jamaica Independence Grand Gala, where they formed the Guard of Honour, marking the DCS’s first-ever representation at the national event.

Minister Commends Recruits as “Agents of Change”

In his keynote address, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, commended the graduating officers and reminded them of their crucial role in national development:

“You are guardians of security. You are also agents of change. The uniform you wear is not only a shield against disorder; it is a bridge to transformation.”

Dr. Chang acknowledged the demands of the profession, from high-pressure environments and resource constraints to the delicate balance between enforcement and empathy. He emphasized the importance of maintaining dignity and humanity in correctional work:

“Your duty is not only to enforce the law within our facilities but also to uphold the dignity of every person under your supervision… You are at the frontlines of a vision to break cycles of offending, turn lives around, and build communities resilient to crime.”

Highlighting the vital position correctional officers hold within the nation’s security framework, he added:

“I am acutely aware that national security is a chain and that every link matters. You, our correctional officers, are one of the strongest links. You stand at the intersection of crime prevention, rehabilitation, and social reintegration. Your actions affect not just the inmate before you, but the family they will return to, the community they will live in, and this beloved country which we are building together.”

He also noted that Jamaica is gaining recognition internationally for its evolving approach to corrections, drawing inspiration from global models such as Norway and the Dominican Republic, where rehabilitation and humane treatment are central to their correctional frameworks.

Recognizing Excellence: Awardees of the 86th Intake

Several recruits were honoured for exceptional performance throughout the training programme:

• Top All-Round Recruit: Nicole Graham
• Runner-Up All-Round Recruit: Chevan Dunbar
• Most Disciplined Recruit: Hymani Higgins
• Top Recruit in Academics: Gregory Williams
• Runner-Up in Academics: Shellane Blair
• Most Outstanding Team Player: Renee Hinds
• Best Shot: Joshane Scarlett
• Top Recruit in Military Drill: Jaiden Ledgister
• Top Recruit in Spiritual, Ethical and Moral Excellence: Kenroy McLean
• Top Recruit in First Aid: Nicole Graham
• Outstanding Report Writing: Shanna-Kay Patrick
• Best Leadership Qualities: Nicole Graham
• Best Security Methods: Shellane Blair

With the successful graduation of this cohort, the DCS reaffirms its commitment to professionalising Jamaica’s correctional workforce and aligning its operations with international standards of rehabilitation and human rights.

The 86th Intake now joins the frontlines of the country’s correctional services, ready to contribute meaningfully to the transformation of lives, the rehabilitation of offenders, and the broader goal of a safer Jamaica.