Ray Johnson has been appointed the new Commissioner of ACT Corrective Services, ACT Minister for Corrections Mick Gentleman announced this week.
Ray Johnson led ACT Corrective Services as the interim Commissioner over the past 14 months. He was formally appointed Commissioner after a competitive recruitment process.
Commissioner Johnson joined the Australian Federal Police in 1985, where he worked in both uniform and detective roles in the ACT and nationally. He was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2013. He has also served as ACT’s Chief Police Officer and Deputy Commissioner of the Emergency Services Agency.
Commissioner Johnson said his vision for ACT Corrective Services is to improve and expand community partnerships to support offenders, such as the ‘return to work’ workshops, and reduce the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the justice system.
“We must give people the right support so that they have the best chance of not reoffending,” Commissioner Johnson said.
“I’m also looking forward to continuing to build on safety, health, and wellbeing initiatives for Corrections staff. I see great opportunity within ACT Corrective Services to make a difference in the lives of offenders and their families all the while keeping the community safe.
“To the staff at ACT Corrective Services, and people thinking of joining us, my vision is for our organisation to be an employer of choice, delivering a safe and supportive place to work.
“I am committed to achieving long-term and meaningful change for ACT Corrective Services, including through implementing the Blueprint for Change report recommendations.”
That report, published in April by a committee headed by Christine Nixon, revealed that inadequate staffing resources, poor staff culture and sense of value, and an unsafe environment were problems at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, the ACT’s troubled detention centre.
“Our corrections system is about positively changing lives, reducing re-offending and preventing future victims,” Mr Gentleman said. “I feel confident that Commissioner Johnson will lead reform in these areas to improve outcomes for offenders and community safety.”
Minister Gentleman thanked the hardworking staff at Alexander Maconochie Centre, the Court Transport Unit, and in all corners of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate for their ongoing willingness to work together to make corrective services in the ACT the best it can be.
