Adjustments have been made to the promotion policy of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) with movement of officers up the ranks now based on performance.

Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Zavia Mayne, said that the new policy, which is in effect, will ensure that the hard work of correctional officers is met with the requisite level of acceleration through the system.

“For those of you who join this organisation, giving hard work and your dedication and commitment will be the basis on which you rise up the ranks,” he said.

“No longer will it be at the whims and fancies of a senior officer … we are changing that. Hard work must be met with relevant elevation through the service,” he stressed.

Mayne, who was delivering the keynote address at the DCS’ Staff Awards ceremony held recently at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, noted that training and development will be a standard feature of the organisation once an officer is enrolled and enlisted.

He urged the correctional officers to discharge their duties with integrity and a commitment to rehabilitate those who enter the correctional system.

“Expose them to the various programmes that make them a better man and woman, so that when they leave the correctional system, they can return to society as productive citizens,” he said.

The DCS Staff Awards was held to show appreciation to Correctional Officers, Probation Aftercare Officers and other civilian staff members for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the department.

The DCS, which is an entity under the Ministry of National Security, is comprised of seven adult correctional centres, one adult remand centre, four juvenile centres, and 17 (community service offices (probation offices) located islandwide.

Its mission is to “contribute to the safety and protection of our society by keeping offenders secure and facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration as law-abiding citizens while developing a professional and committed staff”.