Monday, February 17, 2014

TDCJ boosts recruitment bonuses at understaffed units

TDCJ has increased recruiting bonuses for corrections officers willing to work in understaffed, rural units, reported the Huntsville Item (Feb. 7):
The Texas prison system has sweetened the pot to attract potential correctional officers to units dealing with staffing problems around the state.

Last month, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston approved increasing the recruiting bonus to $4,000 for new correctional officers willing to sign one-year contracts to work at 15 understaffed prisons that are located in rural areas, or in areas competing for jobs with the oil and gas industry.
“The recruitment and retention of correctional officers is a top priority for the agency,” TDCJ spokesman Jason Clark wrote this week in an email. “The recruitment bonus is another tool the agency is using to attract applicants to apply for positions at units that are facing staffing challenges. We understand that the correctional officer position is one of the most demanding jobs in all of state government.

“TDCJ is committed to doing all it can to recruit and retain correctional officers.”

Two of the units where the increased bonus is being offered are near Walker County. The Ferguson Unit in Midway and the Eastham Unit in Lovelady have correctional officer positions that need to be filled. ...
TDCJ is also offering the $4,000 recruiting bonus at the following units: Briscoe Unit in Frio County; Cotulla in La Salle County; Connally Unit in Karnes County; Dalhart in Hartley County; Daniel in Scurry County; McConnell in Bee County; Lynaugh and Fort Stockton in Pecos County; Jordan and Baten in Gray County; Smith in Dawson County; Stiles in Jefferson County; and Wallace and Ware in Mitchell County.
MORE: From the Amarillo Globe News.

7 comments:

  1. I can only imagine that rent to live in these rural places is exorbitant because of the oil industry or if any places are available. They would certainly need the extra cash.

    TJDO

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  2. I hope the turnover rate continues. Either the aristocrats in the Lege significantly raise the pay grades to that of a state trooper or they have to contract it out because there won't be anyone to recruit from.

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  3. 1:12pm - I see the latter happen.

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  4. Moma said...

    Honey, it's the taxpayers money. Why stop at $4Gs?

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  6. That's a welcome news. With the inflation levels rising and all, every dollar counts. And they really have to step up with the recruitment if they want to resolve that understaffing problem. Although there is still some room for improvement, I think this is a step on the right direction.

    Donna Roland @ epiphanystaffinggroup.com

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  7. TDCJ is an excellent employer. COs work an average of 6 months a year unless they work overtime. They get 8 hours of six leave, 8 hours vacation time and 8+ hours comp. time per month. These hours can be used to take time off. For instance, a CO works 4 days on and 4 days off. If a CO takes off a 4 day shift, the CO gets 12 days off in a row. What job can offer that?! The work is strenuous, but the job overall is really easy. A new high school graduate can start a job and make $2,000 a month. What other employer can offer that besides the oil field? Night shift is easier than day shift. Segregation is easier than General Population. The camaraderie amongst officers keeps the morale up. You will always have complainers but teaming up with officers with positive attitudes helps. I'm going back to being a CO after I had to take time off for a surgery. I miss my fellow COs.

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