Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972
"You are coming on board at an important moment in the Department's history," Mayor Giuliani said. "From Commissioner Jacobson to the newest recruit, the men and women of the Department of Correction have a crucial impact on the future of our City. As a result of the successful crime-fighting strategies implemented by the Police Department, our correction system now houses about 2,000 more inmates than it did a year ago. Despite this increase, violence in the system was down 63 percent and overtime was down 16 percent in Fiscal Year 1996 when compared with the previous year. This is only one of the reasons why the 12,000 employees of this Department are so crucial to New York City's law enforcement community."
Commissioner Jacobson said, "Mayor Giuliani has recognized the need of this Department and of the City for new correction officers. We are grateful that he approved the hiring of this class." Referring to the new uniforms being worn by correction officers for the first time, the Commissioner remarked, "Today you, the newest among the Boldest, wear the Department's bold new look. Wear it well and wear it proudly."
Chief Taylor added, "The Mayor realizes that the Correction Department is a full partner on the criminal justice team. This graduation -- the third since December --brings to more than 800 the number of new officers added to our ranks in the last 10 months."
The new uniform for correction officers -- the first in more than two decades -- features a dark navy blue duty shirt, pants and jacket. The new uniform, which has special safety and function enhancements, includes a distinctive orange-bordered shoulder patch that matches the official colors of the Department.
Today's graduates, who just completed three months of intensive training at the Correction Academy in Middle Village, will be assigned to ten facilities on Rikers Island. First Deputy Commissioner Kerik noted that the new officers on Rikers will continue under Academy tutelage for another 21 months through a program designed to help the novice officers acclimate to actual jail environments and to promote on-the-job application of the training they received.