Guards graduate

The first 12 recruits trained to work as prison officers at the new West Kimberley Regional Prison graduated last week.

Commissioner for Corrective Services Ian Johnson was in Derby last week for celebrations of Class 165’s graduation at Derby Civic Centre.

He addressed the group passionately and warned the newly-graduated officers to “guard their integrity and values with their life”.

Mr Johnson said the new prison would be very important and a “radically different prison”, in providing new opportunities for community engagement.

“We want to alter perceptions that corrections is a cross between The Shawshank Redemption and America’s Hardest Prison,” he said.

Commissioner Johnson directing the new officers to work as a team, urged the group to look out for each other and take pride in their uniform.