Oak Ridge Man Named Juvenile Justice Officer

Christopher Sisco of Oak Ridge received certification as a juvenile correction officer, having graduated from the Juvenile Justice Commission Training Academy.

The 18-week training course is held at the Juvenile Justice Commission TrainingAcademy in Sea Girt. The course includes firearms training, first aid/CPR, use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED), 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 stating, ”On behalf of Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, it is my pleasure to join you today as we celebrate the completion of your preparation to be Juvenile Justice Commission Correction Officers.  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,” stated Gloria R. Hancock, Ed.D., Acting Executive Director, JJC.  ”The JJC is proud of its academy and the state-of-the-art curriculum that its staff has developed to teach officers how to maintain a safe environment for themselves, the juvenile residents and their colleagues.  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 is the single state agency responsible for providing juvenile correctional rehabilitation and parole services.  The JJC cares for New Jersey’s high risk and increasingly vulnerable youth. The agency has a unique and pivotal opportunity to redirect the lives of the youth in its custody.  The JJC operates three secure care facilities and sixteen 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.