The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) held a graduation ceremony on October 10, 2025, at the State Capitol auditorium in Honolulu for 14 new adult corrections officers. The new officers, who completed the Basic Corrections Recruit Class 25-04, will begin work at various correctional facilities across Hawaii.
Following its redesignation from the Department of Public Safety in January 2024, DCR shortened its recruit training program from 11 weeks to eight weeks. Despite the shorter timeline, the department maintains that all critical training elements remain in place to ensure new officers are prepared for their responsibilities.
In response to ongoing staffing shortages, DCR doubled its annual recruit classes last year from three to six. The department plans to increase this number further, aiming for eight classes by the end of 2025. There are currently about 1,110 filled adult corrections officer positions in Hawaii, with an estimated 420 positions still vacant.
DCR Director Tommy Johnson said, “We are extremely proud of every graduate who completed the rigorous training course. They stand firm in their commitment to the safety and security of our communities.”
Recruit training includes more than 300 hours of classroom and physical instruction. Topics covered range from ethics and professionalism to crisis intervention, mental health, first aid, firearms use, and self-defense tactics. Recruits also receive field training at correctional facilities under the guidance of training sergeants before starting their assignments.
The 14 new graduates will be assigned as follows: four at Hālawa Correctional Facility, three at Oʻahu Community Correctional Center, one at Waiawa Correctional Facility, and six at Women’s Community Correctional Center.
