Justice
April 5, 2011

The following Statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice:

Eleven New Correctional Officers Graduate from Recruit Training Program

It was my pleasure on Friday to attend the graduation ceremonies for the Correctional Officer Recruit Training Program which was held this year in Clarenville. This was the first time the program was offered outside St. John’s.

I had the honour of presenting certificates to 11 proud recruits who are now embarking on a brand new career with the Department of Justice as correctional officers. I am proud to stand in this Honourable House today and announce that six of these recruits are women, four of whom are from the Clarenville area. The other recruits are from the Stephenville area and the Northeast Avalon.

These recruits spent a combined six weeks of comprehensive in-class training which focuses on CPR, mental health, gender awareness, suicide prevention, use of force and physical fitness, all components that are critical to their success and safety within our correctional facilities. In addition, they spent two weeks of on-the-job training so that they could experience practical and real life situations in the course of their work.

Since the 2009 release of Decades of Darkness: Moving Towards the Light, which our government commissioned, the Department of Justice has made significant strides towards revitalizing corrections. We have allocated approximately $7 million for the revitalization of the Newfoundland and Labrador corrections system. In addition, in the last two years we have trained a substantial number of correctional officers. From January 2009 to April 2011, 93 new correctional officers have gone through Correctional Officer Recruit Training Program.

Friday’s graduation ceremony also included the first presentation of the Sean Colbourne Award. This new award is in memory of Sean Colbourne who was one of our cadets last year who died tragically just days after graduation. This award is given to the cadet who best exemplifies all the qualities that Sean showed during his own training. Those qualities are determination, honesty, strength, perseverance, dependability and a resilient character. I am proud to announce that Nicole Critch of Clarenville is the first ever recipient. Sean was well-admired by his classmates and I can not think of any better tribute for Sean than this award.

Once again I would like to congratulate these 11 new graduates of the Correctional Officer Recruit Training Program. I wish them all the best as they embark on their new career and I warmly welcome them to the Department of Justice.

2011 04 05 1:50 p.m.