By Karl Chin
As correctional agencies nationwide struggle with staffing shortages and recruitment challenges, the New York City Department of Correction is investing in a different approach: developing future officers before they ever enter the academy.
Through its partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the CEEDS Cadet Program is creating a pipeline of students who graduate with both academic credentials and firsthand correctional experience.
A strategic academic partnership
The Cadet, Education, Empowerment, and Development for Success (CEEDS) program identifies juniors and seniors interested in careers in corrections, criminal justice and public service. Potential students must go through a background check, including medical, psychological testing and physical agility screening.
Once accepted into the program, students receive a stipend of $4,000 per semester to help cover tuition costs. In return, students sign a two-year contract committing to work for the agency. Participants engage in focused academic coursework while also receiving structured training aligned with departmental standards and expectations.
The program includes academy-style instruction, monthly meetings, leadership development, physical training, facility tours and supervised internship experience within the New York City jail system. Cadets are exposed to specialized units, including PREA, AIU, K-9 and housing area operations, where they shadow correction officers and learn operational procedures and ethical responsibilities. This comprehensive approach ensures students graduate not only with a degree but with professional readiness and a clear understanding of the correctional environment.
Training
Cadets train alongside recruits when there is an academy class in session. Cadets attend a four-week boot camp, where they are challenged physically and mentally. All cadets receive training in housing area operations, count and movement procedures, correction law, ethics and use-of-force principles. They also complete first aid/CPR, mental health first aid, physical training, defensive tactics and interpersonal communication training, while receiving mentorship in servant leadership, team building and conflict resolution.
Cadets visit the NYS courts to learn about the structure of the courts. They also visit correctional facilities, including Sing Sing Correctional Facility and the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, to gain insight into different operational models within corrections.
Cadets also get a chance to visit the Medical Examiners’ Office. They learn about the crime laboratory, toxicology, and medical forensics (autopsy), and yes, they do get to see autopsies. Additionally, cadets frequently visit Rikers Island to gain firsthand exposure to the jail environment.
When cadets are on winter recess or spring break, they intern inside one of our several jails, shadowing correctional officers on post.
Measurable impact
Since its launch in 2017, the cadet program has demonstrated measurable outcomes in recruitment and retention. Students who complete the program enter the department with realistic expectations, foundational knowledge and mentorship connections. This preparation reduces attrition and strengthens institutional culture.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. John Ward of the Training and Development Division states, “I have had the opportunity to directly observe the CEEDS Program’s impact not only on recruitment, but also on recruit preparedness, academy performance, and long-term workforce development. Based upon my experience overseeing recruit training, leadership development, and Department-wide training initiatives, I have found that CEEDS participants consistently enter the recruit academy with a noticeably higher level of maturity, confidence, professionalism, and understanding of the correctional environment than recruits who enter through traditional hiring pathways alone”.
Equally important, CEEDS reframes corrections as a profession of purpose. By engaging students early, the program highlights the role of correction officers as leaders, problem-solvers and public safety professionals. Cadets gain insight into the challenges of managing secure environments while supporting rehabilitation and maintaining constitutional standards.
The program’s impact can also be seen through the experiences of its graduates.
What CEEDS graduates say about the program
The experiences of CEEDS graduates illustrate the program’s impact on career readiness and professional development.
A. Taveras, a member of Cohort 7 who graduated from the cadet program in May 2025, said the opportunity to work across multiple units gave him valuable exposure to correctional operations before entering the academy.
“My experience as a cadet was shaped by the opportunity to work across multiple units and gain hands-on exposure to the profession. After completing academy training, I was assigned to the Canine Unit, where I learned how dogs are trained and deployed to detect contraband in real operational settings. The curriculum mirrored academy expectations, allowing me to enter confident and prepared for recruit training by building both mental and physical readiness.”
Taveras graduated from the correction academy in April 2026 and is currently completing on-the-job training at Rikers Island.
Other graduates echoed similar experiences. E. Granja said her internship with the PREA Compliance Unit provided insight into the challenges correction officers face daily and helped prepare her for academy training. S. Khan credited the program with helping him develop confidence, leadership skills and a clear career path in corrections. J. Diankha, who immigrated from West Africa, said the program introduced her to a side of public safety he had not previously considered and ultimately convinced him to pursue a career as a correction officer.
Officer Y. Torres, a graduate of Cohort 5 and now a correction officer, said the program strengthened both her personal and professional growth. She noted that the combination of classroom instruction, facility exposure and structured internships helped build confidence and provided practical experience beyond what many entry-level applicants possess.
A model for recruitment
Traditional recruitment methods alone are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of a modern correctional system. The CEEDS program offers a strategic solution.
The program demonstrates that the most effective recruitment begins long before an applicant walks into an academy. Instead of relying solely on post-graduation interest, CEEDS builds relationships with students early on, introducing them to the profession through education, mentorship and structured exposure to real-world correctional environments. This intentional approach reframes recruitment as a developmental process rather than a transactional one.
Through CEEDS, students gain insight into the realities, expectations and leadership responsibilities associated with a career in corrections. Participants are mentored by experienced professionals, exposed to operational environments and provided with training aligned to professional standards. By the time cadets consider entering the academy, they are not exploring a career; they are preparing for one.
The result is a pipeline of candidates who are:
- Informed about the profession.
- Professionally oriented.
- Mentally prepared for the demands of the role.
- Committed to service and leadership.
This model strengthens both recruitment outcomes and retention potential.
A scalable blueprint for agencies nationwide
Agencies seeking sustainable hiring solutions can implement similar programs by investing in cadet partnerships with local colleges and universities. Such collaborations require alignment between education and workforce development.
Agencies can begin with:
- Establishing formal partnerships with nearby academic institutions.
- Creating internship or observational opportunities within facilities.
- Providing mentorship from seasoned correctional staff.
- Offering exposure to specialized units and operational functions.
- Aligning curriculum support with agency expectations.
These partnerships allow agencies to cultivate future officers early, ensuring candidates enter the hiring process with realistic expectations, professional maturity and foundational knowledge.
Strengthening the profession through collaboration
As correctional systems continue to evolve, recruitment must evolve with them. Programs like CEEDS illustrate the impact of collaboration between academia and operational leadership. By integrating academic rigor, mentorship and professional training standards, agencies are not simply filling vacancies, they are shaping the next generation of correctional professionals.
Investing in early development through academic cadet programs is a long-term commitment to strengthening institutional culture and improving preparedness.
For more information about the CEEDS program, click here.
Reference
New York City Department of Correction. (n.d.). CEEDS (Cadet, Education, Empowerment & Development for Success). NYC.gov
About the author
Karl Chin, CJO, has served with the New York City Department of Correction for 18 years and transferred to the Training and Development Division in 2014, where he trains correction officer recruits. In 2020, he began training cadets at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and became Company Commander in 2021. Officer Chin is a NYS Master Instructor, former Lieutenant with the Suffolk County Auxiliary Police, and the 2024 Correctional Trainer of the Year from the American Jail Association. He is also New York State’s first Certified Jail Officer.