JJC Training Academy Graduates 26 Juvenile Detention Officers

SEA GIRT - Twenty-six juvenile detention officers graduated today from the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission's (JJC) Training Academy. Family members, friends and representatives from the county detention centers attended the ceremony to recognize the graduates.

This is the third training cycle conducted for county juvenile detention officers. The first graduation was held a year ago this month. In 1999, the JJC was authorized by the Police Training Commission to take over training duties that were previously provided by the State Department of Corrections (DOC). Prior to the creation of the JJC, the DOC was responsible for delinquent juveniles. Their officers received the same training, whether they were assigned to an adult facility or a juvenile facility.

"The New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission is pleased to offer this unique training designed specifically for correction officers who work with juveniles," stated Howard L. Beyer, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission. "As the single state agency charged to reform the juvenile justice system, its makes sense that the JJC provide training specifically tailored to help officers meet the challenges and the very different needs of juvenile residents as opposed to those of adult inmates. The JJC is proud of its Training 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 the juveniles in their care turn their lives around. I want to thank the New Jersey Detention Association, and its president Gerald Bowden, for working with the JJC to make this project a success."

The six-week training course is held at the Juvenile Justice Commission/Division of Criminal Justice Satellite Training Academy. The training center, which opened in 2002, has expanded the training opportunities that the JJC can offer. The counties are charged $600 per officer to attend the training, which includes an optional residential component for those officers who live a distance from the facility. The training includes first aid/CPR, use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED), the history of the family court and juvenile justice system in the State of New Jersey, and defensive tactics.

"The Juvenile Detention Officer training program at the JJC Academy is the result of the tremendous effort of Mr. Beyer, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission, Mr. Cleary, Director of Training for the JJC and his staff, and the New Jersey Juvenile Detention Association. This is a major step in establishing a truly centralized training facility and philosophy geared for those professionals dedicated to working with juveniles," said Gerald Bowden, President of the New Jersey Juvenile Detention Association. "This graduation further emphasizes the partnership that exists between the State and the Counties in providing a continuum of effort to change the behavior of juveniles who enter the juvenile justice system so that they may become model citizens rather than model prisoners. The State of New Jersey and its Counties continue to produce the best trained and qualified professionals to work with a difficult juvenile population."

Michael Cleary, Director of the JJC Training Academy concluded that, "The collaboration between the Juvenile Justice Commission, the New Jersey Detention Association and the directors of the individual county juvenile detention centers is what makes this training such a success. By working together, we can make sure that men and women on the front lines of juvenile justice are prepared for any situation and have the ability to make a difference in the lives of our State's youth."

There are 17 county-operated juvenile detention centers in the State of New Jersey that house juveniles awaiting adjudication by a judge or to be transferred to another facility.

A list of graduates and their facilities is attached.

The following graduates earned awards during the course of the training cycle:

For more information on the JJC, please visit www.njjjc.com