The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission proudly celebrates Corrections Officers Academy Class 506, whose graduates are preparing to return to agencies across the state with stronger skills, deeper confidence and a shared commitment to public service.
For corrections officers, the work begins long before a person enters a facility. It starts with training that emphasizes safety, communication, accountability and professionalism. At WSCJTC, the Corrections Officers Academy helps prepare new officers to serve inside Washington’s correctional facilities, where they play a critical role in maintaining safe environments for staff, incarcerated individuals and the broader community.
COA 506 brought together recruits from across Washington, including officers from large metropolitan agencies and smaller communities throughout the state. That statewide connection became one of the defining parts of the academy experience.
Jeremy Schroeder of the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention said the first day was about learning who everyone was and where they came from.
“Day one is very much like you’re coming in, you don’t really know anyone,” Schroeder said. “I was looking at a lot of people’s patches, like, okay, where are people from?”
As the weeks continued, those early introductions turned into strong bonds.
“It’s really fun getting to know people from all over Washington state and being able to engage with people that maybe I wouldn’t be able to in other ways,” Schroeder said. “We just really quickly grew some really strong bonds.”
Training Built for Real-World Responsibilities
Corrections officers serve in a demanding and often misunderstood profession. Their work requires sound judgment, emotional control, clear communication and the ability to respond safely during difficult situations. Inside facilities, corrections officers help maintain order, protect people in custody, support staff safety and contribute to the justice system’s broader responsibility to treat people with dignity and accountability.
The Corrections Officers Academy gives recruits foundational training they can bring back to their agencies. That includes practical skills, professional expectations and scenario-based instruction that helps officers prepare for the realities of working in correctional environments.
For Lantia Harriott, also with the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, the academy helped build confidence in the skills she will use on the job.
“Training has been amazing,” Harriott said. “A lot of us are leaving here pretty confident going back to our agency. We know how to do the basic principles, handcuffing, how to deal with inmates, other officers. A lot of our confidence has definitely built.”
That confidence matters. Corrections officers are often called to respond calmly in tense situations, communicate across differences and make decisions that affect safety and trust. Their work supports not only the people inside correctional facilities, but also families, agencies and communities throughout Washington.
Out of Many, We Are One
Each academy class develops its own identity, and COA 506 chose a motto that reflected its journey: “Out of many, we are one.”
Schroeder said the class created the motto together by gathering ideas, narrowing them down and voting on the phrase that best represented the group.
“We thought it represented our class really well,” he said.
The motto reflects the strength of corrections training at WSCJTC. Recruits arrive from different agencies, communities and backgrounds, then train together toward a common mission: serving with professionalism, accountability and care.
Preparing Officers to Serve With Purpose
As COA 506 graduates, its members return to agencies across Washington with new tools, stronger relationships and a clearer understanding of the role they play in public safety.
Harriott offered advice to future academy classes: “Zero in on the training, taking every little bit of it. You will definitely be applying it when you leave here.”
She also reflected on how quickly the academy experience passed.
“The TAC officers used to say the days are long, but the weeks are short,” Harriott said. “Starting on day one, we had 10 weeks ahead of us. And just like that, the 10 weeks are over. And now we’re heading back to our agencies, pretty prepared.”
WSCJTC congratulates COA 506 on this achievement and thanks each graduate for choosing a profession rooted in service, safety and community impact.
As these new corrections officers begin the next chapter of their careers, they carry with them the training, teamwork and responsibility needed to serve Washington communities with integrity.