Recruitment
The Recruitment section is dedicated to strategies and best practices for attracting and hiring qualified candidates in the correctional field. This directory offers articles and resources on effective recruitment techniques, workforce diversity, and the challenges of staffing correctional facilities. Understanding the recruitment process is essential for building a strong, capable team that meets the demands of the correctional environment. For more on career development, explore our section on Corrections1 Career Resources.
The firing of over 2,000 correctional officers in early 2025 pushed the statewide vacancy rate from 13.3% to 27.4%
Pennington County Jail officials credit collaboration across county departments, increased wages and mentorship for ending staffing gap
Ignoring minor requests isn’t harmless — it’s fueling the recruitment and retention crisis in corrections
SeaTac federal detention center has 53 officers available to oversee 800 inmates
The COs were in Minneapolis for a recruiting event when they witnessed the incident, which had also gone over the radio as a call for assistance
Union highlights significant wage gap for “under-appreciated, undervalued and misunderstood” probation officers compared to NYPD, correction staff
BOP’s regional office announced the 25% retention pay employees have received since early 2022 will be discontinued at the end of the year
“Officers are the forgotten keepers in the Bureau,” the union said. “We work under stress, mission changes and rise to the occasion every time, doing more with less”
The department’s retention rate has nearly hit 90% over the last 14 months; the DOC credits its lenient uniform rules, social media access during breaks, flexible work schedules and other initiatives
Jeff Rhinerson will support court security officers in upholding the safety and integrity of the Judicial Center in his role as a court security assistant
“It makes zero sense for them to add 1,000 new inmates and cut the pay of the staff members by 25%,” the union said
This may be the year of correctional burnout
The closures are intended to “enhance public safety” and “increase efficiency” inside prisons, VADOC said
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office in Texas has overcome the recruiting crisis by expediting the hiring process, implementing competitive pay, offering innovative training and updating existing wellness programs
Corrections agencies nationwide are innovating with recruitment videos to attract recruits and lateral officers
“This has got to be the most we’ve sworn in at once in at least 10 years,” Jail Commander Nate Uhlorn said
Inmates are being transferred to the Penitentiary of New Mexico even though PNM’s staff vacancy rate is more than 40%
The Hazelton complex is currently down over 80 correctional officers, which creates risk for both COs and inmates, the union president said
“It’s the same things that I’ve been discussing over the past however many years now, it’s the safety, it’s the staffing, and it’s the facility, and the things that are not being done to progress,” Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said
What characteristics differentiate an officer with a military background versus their non-military counterpart?
Two new videos explain the process and share testimonials from former inmates
N.Y. county plans to change retirement incentives, eliminate civil service test to boost recruitment
Instead of the test for Erie County facilities, individuals can complete an online “training and experience” application that awards points for different levels of educational attainment and work experience
Despite a substantial funding hike, enduring staffing challenges persistent in the state’s juvenile justice system
The Santa Fe County Jail also saw “immediate results” from ramped-up recruitment efforts that included flyers and weekly rapid hire events this summer
As three COs were subduing the inmate, he managed to escape their grasp and punched an officer in the eye
One union called the potential action a “slap in the face for the heroes who put their lives on the line every day”
By lowering the age requirement to age 18 for COs, the J. Reuben Long Detention Center has under 20 openings; last year, the jail was facing 50 open positions.
A state corrections spokesperson stated that staffing shortages are exacerbated by the remote locations of many state prisons, which are typically difficult to staff
One union called the potential action a “slap in the face for the heroes who put their lives on the line every day”
An Ohio chef is renowned for training inmates. Could he fix the Cuyahoga County jail’s food problem?
The chef said he’s been trying to help the county fix its jail food problem, which is so severe correctional officers have worried it could spark a riot
When the facility lost two of four correctional officers in September, it was no longer able to operate
Two Delaware Department of Corrections and Parole Officers visited the students to explain training requirements and career opportunities
Lack of staff and training impedes policy adherence in the facility, according to 162-page report by federal monitors
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