HONOLULU — Enhanced recruiting efforts have helped the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation make headway on filling hundreds of vacant adult corrections officer and other positions this year, the department reported this week.

What You Need To Know

  • DCR, which operates eight correctional facilities across the state, has been hampered by chronic personnel shortages.
  • The department said using 89-day temporary hires has helped to fast-track the hiring process while also providing the temporary hires to determine whether the job is a good fit before applying for a permanent position
  • The campaign has helped DCR attract more than 755 eligible applicants and fill nearly 190 corrections officer positions between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15
  • DCR is now expanding its recruitment efforts to other job positions within the department

 

“We seek to fill our positions with individuals with the right temperament and attitude,” said DCR director Tommy Johnson. “We also conduct thorough background checks that include a criminal history check, psychological examination and physical fitness assessment. It is not easy. Not everyone makes it through our rigorous screening process and training, but we are making steady progress.”

The department, which operates eight correctional facilities across the state, has been hampered by chronic personnel shortages. This summer, it launched its “Unlocking Potential” recruitment, which includes increasing training classes, performing on-site interviews at job fairs and leveraging temporary hires.

DCR increased its recruit training classes to six per year, up from two to three previously.

It has also started to use teams of off-duty officers to conduct on-the-spot interviews of prospective candidates at job fairs.

The department said using 89-day temporary hires has helped to fast-track the hiring process while also providing the temporary hires to determine whether the job is a good fit before applying for a permanent position.

In addition, the starting pay for adult corrections officers increased to $64,000 from $61,200 per year.

The campaign has helped DCR attract more than 755 eligible applicants and fill nearly 190 corrections officer positions between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15. That’s nearly twice as many hires as the department had over the same period last year. There are currently 370 corrections officer positions yet to be filled.

DCR is now expanding its recruitment efforts to other job positions within the department, including the areas of education, health care services (including nursing and behavioral health care or mental health), food service, human resources and other areas.

“Recruiting adult corrections officers continues to be our priority,” Johnson said. “We’re building on the foundation of our adult corrections officer campaign, and are now launching our new ‘Champions of Change’ campaign, featuring real employees who hold other job positions to support the inmates and other correctional and administrative functions.”

“These positions are just as important to help ensure our inmates receive the support services they need to be equipped and ready for release back into the community,” Johnson said. “Like the adult corrections officers, we are looking for extraordinary individuals. Candidates for these positions must have a deep commitment to helping others realize their full potential. They must be champions of change who want to guide inmates who want to be reunited with their families again and are ready to begin a new chapter in their lives.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.