Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice

02/26/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/26/2026 16:46

DJJ Graduates New Correctional Officers

(Decatur, GA) - The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) held a graduation ceremony for 45 newly trained Juvenile Correctional Officer (JCO) cadets on Friday, February 13 at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Ga. The cadets have joined the ranks of other JCOs at DJJ secure facilities across the state.

"Juvenile Correctional Officers help ensure a safe and secure environment for rehabilitating and transforming the young lives we serve," said DJJ Commissioner Shawanda Reynolds-Cobb. "I am so proud of our new officers' commitment to our youth as they strive towards a bright future."

Basic Juvenile Correctional Officer Training (BJCOT) is a comprehensive 200-hour program that provides basic skills training in security practices and procedures. To complete the program, a cadet must meet established standards on written examinations that evaluate cognitive knowledge and performance-oriented studies.

The graduates are assigned to a DJJ detention center or development campus in Baldwin, Bibb, Chatham, Cobb, Crisp, DeKalb, Dodge, Floyd, Fulton, Hall, Laurens, Muscogee, Richmond, Rockdale, Terrell, Thomas, and Wilkes counties.

Here is a list of BJCOT Class #280 graduates, hometowns, and facilities:

Graduate Names Hometowns DJJ Facility
  1. Deondra Patrick
Albany, Ga. Muscogee YDC
  1. Eric Jackson
Atlanta, Ga. Metro RYDC
  1. Jayden Scott
Atlanta, Ga. DeKalb RYDC
  1. Britney Sparks
Atlanta, Ga. Metro RYDC
  1. Leonardo Devine
Augusta, Ga. Augusta RYDC
  1. Kyara Lewis
Augusta, Ga. Augusta YDC
  1. Yoleinys Gomez-Garcia
Caracas, Venezuela Metro RYDC
  1. Knoris Thompson
Clearwater, Fla. Terrell RYDC
  1. Ariel Crutcher
Columbia, S.C. Savannah RYDC
  1. Preston Lavant
Cordele, Ga. Crisp RYDC
  1. Asia Jones
Dacula, Ga. Gainesville RYDC
  1. Olivia Perkins
Dawson, Ga. Terrell RYDC
  1. Markcus Arnold
Decatur, Ga. Rockdale RYDC
  1. Jessica Jordan
Decatur, Ga. DeKalb RYDC
  1. Jamonte Green
Douglas, Ga. Eastman YDC
  1. Tiffany Robinson
East Point, Ga. Metro RYDC
  1. Mauriana Underwood
Eastman, Ga. Eastman YDC
  1. Shante Wilcox
Eastman, Ga. Eastman YDC
  1. Shamellia Davis
Greenwood, Miss. Metro RYDC
  1. Najwa Duffey
Griffin, Ga. Rockdale RYDC
  1. Jamerion Love
Irwinton, Ga. Macon RYDC
  1. JaNya McFadden
Kingstree, S.C. DeKalb RYDC
  1. David Watts
Macon, Ga. Macon RYDC
  1. LaMario Hawkins
Memphis, Tenn. Metro RYDC
  1. Rodney Deshommes
Miami, Fla. Marietta RYDC
  1. Kamryn Daniels
Montrose, Ga. Cadwell RYDC
  1. Donald Carruthers
Ocala, Fla. Marietta RYDC
  1. Joe McKinley
Portland, Ore. Metro RYDC
  1. Kerri Gray
Reidville, Ga. Eastman YDC
  1. Alexis Taylor
Sandersville, Ga. Rockdale RYDC
  1. April Giles
Savannah, Ga. Savannah RYDC
  1. Tiffany Sams
Savannah, Ga. Bob Richards RYDC
  1. Shaney Smart
Savannah, Ga. Savannah RYDC
  1. Sharonda White
Somerville, N.J. Atlanta YDC
  1. Marocah Murray
Sparta, Ga. Milledgeville RYDC
  1. Tajuana Crawford
Statesboro, Ga. Bob Richards RYDC
  1. Myliesha Ash (Myiesha)
Tallahassee, Fla. Macon YDC
  1. Dynique Williams
Tampa, Fla. Macon YDC
  1. Dalmyice Daniels
Thomasville, Ga. Loftiss RYDC
  1. Katrina Bennett
Tifton, Ga. Eastman YDC
  1. Kayla Cottingham
Upper Marlboro, Md. Atlanta YDC
  1. Carlton Plant
Warner Robins, Ga. Macon RYDC
  1. Dorian Favors
Washington, Ga. Wilkes RYDC
  1. Jenae Foreman
Washington, D.C. Metro RYDC
  1. Shante McGauley
Waycross, Ga. Transportation Driver

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The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice is a multi-faceted agency that serves the state's justice-involved youth up to 21 years of age. The Department's mission is to transform young lives by providing evidence-based rehabilitative treatment services and supervision, strengthening youth and families' well-being, and fostering safe communities.

Contact

CommunicationsGlenn Allen

Primary (404) 291-0208
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice published this content on February 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 26, 2026 at 22:46 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]