The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Helen Conway Ottenheimer, Minister of Justice and Public Safety:

Speaker, correctional officers play a crucial role in our justice system, working with some of the province’s most vulnerable individuals.

This summer, the Correctional Officer Recruitment Training Program will be offered in Labrador, with successful graduates offered employment as correctional officers in Labrador.

We anticipate even more officers in the coming months as 38 students are enrolled in the training program in St. John’s and Mount Pearl. In May, they will join the dedicated correctional officers that work tirelessly at facilities across the province.

Through this training, recruits learn about the various issues faced by our diverse inmate population, particularly related to mental health and cultural sensitivities, as well as operational courses, including use of force and emergency situations.

The program’s hands-on instruction helps recruits learn from our amazing correctional officers so they can see the life-changing influence that they can have on inmates, promoting rehabilitation to help break the cycle of crime and keep our communities safe.

Earlier this year, I visited the Labrador Correctional Facility to meet staff and see the centre first-hand and the planned renovations that will support staff and inmates.

Speaker, I ask all honourable members to join me in thanking those who bring their compassion and empathy to the role of correctional officer.