(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Department of Corrections held a special ceremony on December 27 to officially welcome 12 correctional officer graduates into its professional ranks.

Corrections staff and the graduates’ family and friends joined in congratulating the eight male and four females who have successfully completed a comprehensive six-week Basic Corrections Training Program that will prepare them to work at the Department’s Central Detention Facility (DC Jail) and other correctional worksites.  The training incorporated classroom instruction, physical agility, firearms proficiency and on-the-job-training at the DC Jail.

In addressing the correctional officer graduates, Corrections Director Devon Brown emphasized the demands of the profession and the unwavering commitment of those who choose to become public servants.  “Corrections is our profession, but public safety is our passion,” stated Director Brown. “Our staff walks the most challenging beats in the community. They do so with pride, professionalism and proficiency,” he added.

The graduates had to meet mandatory standards in order to qualify as correctional officer candidates including employment and personal history background screens; pre-employment urinalysis for illegal drug use; fingerprint and criminal history checks; medical examination; an integrity interview and an ergometrics correctional officer video test. Unacceptable information on any of the screening factors eliminated a candidate from consideration.

The graduates represent the second group of correctional officers newly hired by the Department of Corrections in 10 years. The Department graduated 13 correctional officers in November; another correctional officer class is expected to graduate in late January. The graduates join the nearly 600 correctional officers employed with the Department of Corrections.