KAWARTHA LAKES- 65 new correctional officers will be on the range at various Correctional Centres across the province as new graduates were sworn in Friday. Four will go to the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay.
“Correctional officers are essential partners in Ontario’s justice system,” said Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General. “They provide a vital service that directly impacts community safety across the province. I would like to congratulate every graduate for their hard work and commitment.”
The Union representing CO’s at the Lindsay jail says these are part time positions and will not address the actual staffing compliment. “They could hire 4000 new part time staff and that would never address the real staffing issue.” Chris Butsch, President Local 368.
The graduates have successfully completed the Correctional Officer Training and Assessment (COTA) program – a comprehensive eight-week course that includes mental health training, Indigenous cultural training, inmate management techniques and ongoing training and job coaching following deployment according to the Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections.
“Correctional officers across the province provide services that uphold our justice system, and I am very proud to see 65 new correctional officer graduates from COTA to serve across the province,” said Belinda Karahalios, Parliamentary Assistant to the Solicitor General. “I would like to express my gratitude for the hard work these officers have put in and thank them for their service to the people of Ontario.”
The officers will be assigned across Ontario to 11 different institutions. Of the 65 new correctional officers, three will go to institutions in the Northern region, 13 will go to the Western region, six to the Eastern region and 43 to the Central region. The new officers are assigned to facilities near their home regions to offer a local perspective on the unique challenges of each facility.
“We will continue to work directly with all of our frontline staff to ensure they have the resources needed to keep themselves safe, while supporting the rehabilitation of those in our correctional system,” said Jones.
