SEA GIRT - Badges and certificates were awarded to 21 juvenile correction officers today by the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) as it graduated its 26th class of law enforcement officers. Felix Mickens, JJC Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Michael Cleary, Director of the JJC’s Training Academy, presented the badges and certificates. Llionel Henderson, Superintendent of the New Jersey Training School, delivered the keynote address to the graduates and their families and friends.
The 17-week training course is held at the Juvenile Justice Commission Training Academy in Sea Girt. The course includes firearms training, first aid/CPR, use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED), physical training, the history of the family court and juvenile justice system in New Jersey, and defensive tactics.
“I wish to congratulate the 21 men and women who have completed their preparation to be Juvenile Justice Commission Correction Officers,” said Acting Attorney General John J.Hoffman. “Each graduate has made a commitment not only to the residents of the JJC and the Department of Law and Public Safety, but to the residents of this state whose safety we are charged to protect.”
In 1999, the JJC was authorized by the Police Training Commission to take over the training duties that were previously handled by the State Department of Corrections (DOC) to juvenile correction officers. This change allowed the JJC to design and implement a unique training curriculum specific to the needs of law enforcement officers who work with juveniles.
“As the single state agency charged to reform the juvenile justice system, it makes sense that the JJC provides training specifically tailored to help officers meet the challenges and the very different needs of juvenile residents,” stated Kevin M. Brown, Executive Director, JJC. ”The JJC is proud of its academy and the state-of-the-art curriculum that its staff has developed to teach officers how to maintain a safe environment for themselves, the juvenile residents and their colleagues. Ensuring that custody staff have the knowledge and the tools to do their jobs to the best of their abilities plays an important part in helping juveniles turn their lives around.”
The JJC is the single state agency responsible for providing juvenile correctional rehabilitation and parole services. The JJC cares for New Jersey’s high risk and increasingly vulnerable youth. The agency has a unique and pivotal opportunity to redirect the lives of the youth in its custody. The JJC operates three secure care facilities and sixteen residential community homes and day treatment facilities. In addition, the JJC is responsible for the parole and transitional services for youth when they return home from the JJC’s custody.
#### |