180 correctional officers are being recruited in Ontario to increase staffing levels at the province’s correctional facilities, including 10 positions at the Quinte Detention Centre in nearby Napanee.
According to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, these new positions are being added to ensure staffing levels will grow beyond regular turnover & retirement, and to ensure officers are reflective of the diverse communities they serve.
“Ontario’s correctional officers play a vital role in helping to keep our communities safe,” said Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.”Further increasing staffing levels with the recruitment of 180 new correctional officers is a key part of our strategy to transform Ontario’s correctional system to better support staff and inmates, and the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals into the community.”
Facilities set to benefit include Fort Frances, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Lindsay, Napanee, Ottawa, Monteith, Sault Ste. Marie and Brantford. The additional staff is expected to enhance program delivery and improve staff and inmate safety.
Since 2013, Ontario has hired 571 new correctional officers. There are currently 143 additional correctional officers in training with an expected March 4, 2016 graduation date.
New recruits will be required to complete an eight-week Correctional Officer Training and Assessment program. The course includes mental health training, inmate management techniques, and a complete assessment and evaluation of the recruit before they are deployed to an institution.
The job postings are available on the Ontario Public Service Careers page.
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