The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) in Honolulu celebrated the graduation of 13 new adult corrections officers at a ceremony held on March 21, 2025, at the State Capitol auditorium. These graduates from Basic Corrections Recruit Class (BCRC) 25-01 have completed their training and are set to begin their roles in various facilities across the state.
Tommy Johnson, Director of DCR, expressed his pride in the graduates' accomplishments, stating, “I am proud of all graduates who completed the rigorous training course.”
Following a restructuring in January 2024 from the Department of Public Safety (PSD), DCR has increased its recruit classes from three to six annually. This change is part of an effort to address approximately 450 vacant positions among adult corrections officers statewide. Currently, there are about 1,085 filled ACO positions.
“Recruitment for ACO positions is a priority for us,” Director Johnson emphasized.
The BCRC involves an eight-week training program that includes over 300 hours of classroom instruction and physical training. Recruits receive education on standards of conduct, ethics and professionalism, report writing, interpersonal communications, maintaining security, crisis intervention, security threat groups (gangs), mental health awareness, first aid skills, firearms use and self-defense tactics.
DCR's mission focuses on providing secure correctional environments while offering comprehensive rehabilitative services with culturally based approaches aimed at reducing recidivism and generational incarceration.
In addition to basic corrections training, incoming classes undergo Recruit Field Training where they gain practical experience within facilities under the guidance of training sergeants during their final weeks.
For photos and videos from the BCRC graduation ceremony: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zGp-LS39gAS8jwHitDwm-tdi73Ru1vLl?usp=sharing