News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2023

Department of Correction Swears in New Class of 128 Correction Officer Recruits

New Class Continues Partnership with NYPD and Successful Field Training Program

Correction Commissioner Louis A. Molina and Deputy Commissioner of Training and Development Dr. Robert Gonzalez today welcomed 128 new Correction Officer recruits at a swearing-in ceremony held at the New York City Police Academy at 130-30 28th Avenue in Queens.

“We are proud to welcome these new recruits who are taking the first step towards becoming a member of the Boldest family,” said Commissioner Molina. “Our successful new training program for recruits is a major step forward for our department and for public safety in our city. This is one more example – in addition to the major reductions in violence and injuries we have achieved – of how we are instilling proper correctional practices and making our jails safer for our Officers, staff, and people in custody.”

“These new recruits will be challenged every day both mentally and physically during their training as they are prepared for the toughest job in law enforcement in our city,” said Deputy Commissioner Gonzalez. “Our new field-training program and our historic partnership with the NYPD are major achievements for the department, and we will build on our success with each class of bold men and women that joins our ranks.”

The new recruits will once again train at the state-of-the-art NYPD facility for 12 weeks, where they will receive rigorous training from two dozen veteran DOC instructors in law, conflict resolution, de-escalation tactics, jail procedures, suicide prevention, physical conditioning, programing, firearms, and report writing.

At the completion of their 12 weeks of training from instructors, they will report to facilities on Rikers Island to begin the next phase – an 8-week field training program – where they will receive hands-on experience from veteran officers and tour the jails under the guidance of training officers. They will enter all areas of the facilities and be evaluated for their correctional practice.

This will be the second class of recruits to utilize the new 8 weeks of field training. In May of this year, the most recent class of 85 Correction Officers began their field training. This new model was extremely successful and resulted in 100 percent completing the 8-week field training program.

Two of the new recruits are graduates of the CEEDS Program (Cadet Education, Empowerment & Development for Success)—a collaboration between John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the NYC Department of Correction. The program recruits students interested in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice or Correction Studies, and prepares them for future leadership opportunities at the NYC Department of Correction.

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The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment while providing individuals in our care with a path to successfully re-enter their communities.