JJC TRAINING ACADEMY GRADUATES
27 CORRECTION OFFICERS AND 3 PAROLE OFFICERS

SEA GIRT - Badges and certificates were awarded to 27 correction officers and three parole officers today by the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) as it graduated its 15th class of law enforcement officers.

The JJC began training its own juvenile correction officers and juvenile parole officers in 1999. The JJC was authorized by the Police Training Commission to take over 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 12 week training course is held at the Juvenile Justice Commission/Division of Criminal Justice Satellite Training Academy. The course includes firearms training, first aid/CPR, physical training, 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 JJC 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 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."

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 youth in the Commission's custody. The JJC operates 6 secure care facilities and 22 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. The JJC employs more than 500 custody and parole staff who oversee these functions.

The academy graduated the following men and women:

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