Recruiting & retaining corrections officers

Recognizing the need to recruit and retain employees, the County Council agreed to increase pay for Corrections Officers by $3 per hour and allowed the department to fill many vacant positions. Prior to the pay increase, there were 84 vacancies. By the end of the year, that number decreased to 30.

The department launched a Women’s Leadership Development Program to encourage and help female corrections officers become leaders at the Justice Center. Prior to the program’s launch, only three women served in leadership roles. Now 11 additional women have been promoted including four new lieutenants, four new sergeants, an acting unit manager, and visitation property bonding coordinator.

The department also was selected for a U.S. Department of Labor certified apprenticeship program for corrections officers. This apprenticeship program provides 2,000 hours of job training. Corrections officers who complete the six-month probationary period of the apprenticeship training will receive a $500 incentive.

Once a year of training is completed, they are eligible for up to 30 hours of college credit in a job-related major at a community college. Those college credits can help with career advancement.