“I want to congratulate and thank each individual for choosing a rewarding career in public service – one that directly contributes to the safety of the communities they serve,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “Correctional officers and probation and parole officers are essential partners in Ontario’s justice system, and the comprehensive training they have received will ensure they are well prepared for the important work they will undertake.”
The correctional officer training program took place virtually and in-person for eight weeks with a focus on enhanced communication and de-escalation skills. It also included a focus on anti-Black racism, Indigenous cultural training and inmate management techniques.
Correctional officer graduates will be assigned to 15 different institutions across Ontario near their home regions:
- 13 graduates will support the Eastern Region at the Central East Correctional Centre, Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, Brockville Jail and St. Lawrence Valley Correctional & Treatment Centre.
- 20 will support the Western Region at the Central North Correctional Centre and Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre.
- 20 graduates will work in the Northern Region at the North Bay Jail, Kenora Jail, Thunder Bay Jail and Thunder Bay Correctional Centre.
- 31 will work in the Toronto Region at Toronto East Detention Centre and Toronto South Detention Centre.
- 29 will support the Central Region at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex, Niagara Detention Centre, Vanier Centre for Women and the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre.
These recent graduates received compensation from the province while undergoing training to help remove barriers to employment, which is part of the government’s ongoing commitment to invest more than $500 million over five years to transform adult correctional services and improve safety.
Probation and parole officer graduates completed five weeks of extensive training both virtually and in-person at Ontario’s Correctional Services Recruitment and Training Centre. The training included assessment and case plans, motivational interviewing, report writing, enforcement and managing specialized cases.
Probation and parole officers strengthen community safety by helping offenders reintegrate back into their communities. They are currently assigned across the province in areas near their home community to offer a local perspective. Seven are in the Central Region, three in the Northern Region, seven in Western Region and five in the Eastern Region.