Correctional Services Agency welcomes 24 new officers

After weeks of intensive training, 24 people have completed their passing out parade to begin new careers as correctional officers within the Correctional Services Agency.

Home Affairs Byron Camilleri congratulated the new officers while emphasising the importance of discipline and respect in their work.

“You carry not just the responsibility of your actions, but the responsibility of an entire institution,” Camilleri told the recruits, stressing that success in this career must be built on discipline and respect. He explained the importance of the rehabilitative aspect of the correctional system, noting that while maintaining order in the facility is crucial, officers must also work to help residents reintegrate into society and prevent them from creating new victims.

The group of 24 includes 19 men and five women who were selected after demonstrating the highest level of adaptability for the responsibilities associated with this role. The recruits underwent a long recruitment process that included several stages before being chosen for the position.

During the training course recruits had to demonstrate the necessary skills to exercise discipline and contribute fully to the rehabilitative process. The curriculum, based on a holistic approach, covered correctional services systems, the role of the correctional officer, aspects of psychology and physical training, among others.

Camilleri assured the recruits that the government will continue to support them as workers throughout their careers. “We as a government will be with you. We invest in you and help you,” he said, mentioning improvements in working conditions, better pay and more opportunities for professional development that have been given to Correctional Services Agency workers in recent years. He also recalled the investment in resources and facilities.

Correctional Services Agency Chief Executive Christopher Siegersma remarked that the passing out parade is not simply a ceremonial conclusion, but the beginning of professional responsibility and commitment to a demanding, complex and profoundly human vocation.