NHDOC Announces the 125th Corrections Academy Class Graduation

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Corrections announces the graduation of the 125th Corrections Academy. The ceremony was held at the New Hampshire National Guard Edward Cross Training Complex, on November 26, 2024.

The graduating class is the largest in recent years, with 41 graduates, consisting of 28 corrections officers and 13 civilians in corrections line staff positions including a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, college professor, chef, maintenance technician, media generalist, plant maintenance engineer, shop manager, cosmetology instructor, canteen supervisor and three registered nurses. The Corrections Academy chooses a class speaker to be their voice of expression at each graduation. The 125th chose Officer Shaun Scott who spoke to the diversity of the graduates coming from 5 continents and 11 countries, yet all connected in their dedication as One Team.

Several graduates were recognized for their outstanding achievements:

• Officer Joshua Thibeault received the prestigious Arthur D. Kehas Outstanding Officer Award.
• Officer Shaun Scott was honored with multiple awards, including the Academic Achievement Award, the Highest Level of Physical Fitness Award, the Class Appreciation Award, and the Jeremy T. Charron Award, presented by American Legion Post 122.
• Pharmacist Brenda Bailey received the civilian Academic Achievement Award.
• Officer Taylor Inkell was awarded the NHTI – Concord’s Community College Scholarship.

The eight-week academy provides new officers with the tools and resources needed to work in a correctional environment. All graduates received a variety of training including ethics, stress management, officer wellness, communications, contraband introduction, NAMI-NH: mental illness dynamics, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), scenarios, trauma informed corrections and constitutional law. The recruit officers received approximately 40 hours of physical fitness training, training in defensive tactics, certification in baton and pepper spray, and corrections specific laws. Following graduation, the recruit officers will attend 2 weeks of post-academy firearms training prior to returning to their facilities.

The correction line staff participated in five weeks of the academy and received a variety of training including ethics, stress management, communications, contraband introduction, NAMI-NH: mental illness dynamics, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), scenarios, and constitutional law. Correctional line personnel are a unique group of professionals by law because they work on a daily basis in correctional facilities in close and immediate contact with people who are incarcerated and have a responsibility to maintain security.

“The graduates of this academy demonstrate a strong commitment to professionalism and service, embodying the mission of our department recognizing public safety and rehabilitation to ensure a restorative justice system through our role as the department of corrections. These new members of the department will positively impact the communities we serve,” said Commissioner Helen Hanks. “This class, the largest in years, also reflects the success of our recruitment efforts, which continue to bring dedicated, talented and diverse individuals into our agency.”

The Department of Corrections is recruiting for corrections officers and other correctional line staff. Additional information is available online at https://www.jobs.corrections.nh.gov. Questions can be directed to our Recruitment Office at (603) 271-5645 or by emailing doc.jobs@doc.nh.gov.