Recruitment and Retention Items
Issues Facing Corrections Officers in 2022
Heading into 2022, officers and leaders in the corrections sector of law enforcement find themselves at the intersection of many familiar issues to the profession and law enforcement as a whole - recruitment and retention, officer wellness and readiness, and working conditions. While these intersecting issues in corrections have been documented and studied for decades, it is the second year of a global pandemic that has brought renewed attention and, in the best cases, an urgency to address these issues.
Staff recruitment and retention in corrections
Recruitment and retention has been one of the toughest challenges in corrections historically because of several factors. The most important reason behind this challenge is the fact that an occupation in corrections involves violence and confrontations with incarcerated individuals. Agency culture and environmental factors are directly related to retention and recruitment. Evaluating facility cultures and being mindful of generational differences are key to understanding shrinking corrections workforces.
Train to Retain — Developing Corrections Staff
Staff development is a broad subject, but we can begin to tackle it by breaking it down into three areas: Training: How innovative training can develop staff not only in basic recruit training, but also in on-site and online training. Mentoring: How officers can serve as role models — and they do not all have to be training instructors, supervisors, and Field Training Officers (FTOs). Building the future: How everyone can work together to develop and retain staff — as retirements happen, staff members are prepared to take their place. Training and supervisor involvement are critical.