Antigua and Barbuda’s His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) recently held its first graduation ceremony for correctional officers in eight years. Forty-two new officers, including 22 men and 20 women, completed nine weeks of training. They are now ready to start their duties and help improve safety and security at the prison.

The training covered many important topics. Officers learned about local laws, court procedures, conflict resolution, weapons handling, riot control, and first aid. They also practiced skills in stress management, physical fitness, and ethical conduct. This thorough preparation aims to make the officers ready for the challenges of their work.

Officials expressed confidence that these new officers will strengthen the prison’s security and support rehabilitation efforts. However, the prison still needs about 30 more officers. Plans are in place to recruit and train additional staff in 2026 to meet this need.

See more on HMP here: https://mpsl.gov.ag/departments/prison/history/