Message from the Commissioner of Corrections-CCA Website

Welcome to the Caribbean Correctional Academy (CCA), the first institution of its kind in the region dedicated to correctional education, professional development and leadership.

The establishment of the Academy marks a defining moment in the transformation of Jamaica’s correctional services. Building on the proud legacy of the Carl Rattray Staff College, the CCA will expand access to continuous professional development and deliver accredited, competency-based education aligned with national, regional and international standards.

Modern correctional practice demands more than technical competence. It requires ethical leadership, sound judgement, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to security, rehabilitation, reintegration and human rights. Through its four specialised faculties, the Academy will equip correctional professionals with the knowledge, skills and values required to serve with confidence, integrity and excellence.

As the Caribbean’s first dedicated correctional academy, the CCA will serve as a regional hub for education, applied research, innovation and knowledge exchange. It will bring together correctional practitioners, educators, policymakers and strategic partners to strengthen professional standards, advance evidence-based practice and develop solutions that respond to the evolving needs of correctional systems throughout the region.

Through its multi-campus model, the Academy will extend learning beyond a single location by embedding professional development within correctional institutions across Jamaica. Supported by technology-enabled and blended learning, this approach will make training more accessible to officers at every stage of their careers and foster a culture of continuous learning, accountability and excellence throughout the Department of Correctional Services.

This pioneering institution was made possible through the vision, expertise and commitment of our valued partners and stakeholders. On behalf of the Department of Correctional Services, I extend sincere appreciation to the American Correctional Association, the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, The University of the West Indies, the HEART/NSTA Trust, the National Police College of Jamaica and the Caribbean Military Academy. Your invaluable support and contributions have helped transform an ambitious vision into a groundbreaking regional institution poised to shape the future of correctional education and practice.

I also commend the officers, staff and stakeholders whose dedication has supported the Academy’s development. Their collective efforts have laid the foundation for an institution that will invest in our people, strengthen correctional services and advance the broader goals of criminal justice reform.

The Caribbean Correctional Academy is more than a training institution. It is a catalyst for professionalisation, transformation and regional leadership. It reflects our firm belief that a highly skilled, ethical and future-ready workforce is essential to safer institutions, effective rehabilitation, successful reintegration and more secure communities.

I invite correctional professionals, regional counterparts, educators, researchers and partners to engage with the Academy and help shape the future of correctional education and practice. Together, we will build an institution that honours its legacy, responds to present realities and prepares correctional professionals to lead the transformation of tomorrow.

Brigadier (Ret’d) Radgh Mason, OD, JP, MSc, MMAS, MMS, BSc (Hons), psc
Commissioner of Corrections
Department of Correctional Services, Jamaica

UniCamp has established a reputation for excellence in business and management education, providing high quality, industry responsive programs relevant to the national and global marketplace.