Two Par-Troy Correction Officer Trainees Honored

Badges and certificates went to 23 juvenile correction officers Friday by the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission as it graduated its 25th class of law enforcement officers.

Among those honored were two graduates from Parsippany: Nilkant Amin and Robert Wall.

The seven-week training course is held at the Juvenile Justice Commission Training Academy in Sea Girt.  The course includes firearms training, first aid/CPR, use of Automated External Defibrillators, physical training, the history of the family court and juvenile justice system in New Jersey, and defensive tactics.

Deborah Edwards, Chief of Staff, Office of the Attorney General delivered the keynote address at the graduation ceremony.

”[W]e celebrate the completion of your preparation to be Juvenile Justice Commission Correction Officers," she said. "Each graduate has made a commitment not only to the residents of the JJC and the Department of Law and Public Safety, but to the residents of this state whose safety we are charged to protect.”

In 1999, the JJC was authorized by the Police Training Commission to take over the training duties that were previously handled by the State Department of Corrections (DOC) to juvenile correction officers.  This change allowed the JJC to design and implement a unique training curriculum specific to the needs of law enforcement officers who work with juveniles.

“As the single state agency charged to reform the juvenile justice system, it makes sense that the JJC provides training specifically tailored to help officers meet the challenges and the very different needs of juvenile residents,” said Gloria R. Hancock, Ed.D., the JJC's acting executive director.  ”Ensuring that custody staff have the knowledge and the tools to do their jobs to the best of their abilities plays an important part in helping juveniles turn their lives around.”

The JJC cares for New Jersey’s high risk and increasingly vulnerable youth.  It operates three secure care facilities and 16 residential community homes and day treatment facilities.  In addition, the JJC is responsible for the parole and transitional services for youth when they return home from the JJC’s custody.