The Philadelphia Department of Prison’s correctional staff is growing faster than it has in years. PDP hired 230 correctional officers since April of 2024, including 58 currently in the Training Academy, which represents the largest cadet class in more than a decade. 

In addition, current correctional officers are staying in their jobs within the City’s prison system longer than they have in the past.

“I am excited to share that our retention and attrition rates are moving in positive directions,” said Commissioner Michael Resnick, Esq. “Since April of 2024, the PDP has lost only 56 correctional officers for a net-gain of 174. During that same time, our attrition rate has gone from double-digits (monthly) to single-digits. In the current fiscal year, the PDP’s attrition rate is at a record low of 2 percent.”  

Commissioner Resnick was appointed to the leadership position when Mayor Parker took office in January 2024. “Our prison system was in serious need of new leader who could bring transformation to a broken system,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Commissioner Resnick was the right choice for the job, and the rise in new corrections officers, as well as improved retention rates of current staff, confirms his leadership skills are already working.” 

At the PDP’s most recent cadet graduation last month, Commissioner Resnick pointed out what the department is doing to attract much needed corrections officers: 

• Appointed a recruitment coordinator to engage with the public across the city and region with the goal of attracting a larger correctional officer candidate pool 

• Hired a nationally recognized recruiting firm, Whalls Group, that specializes in corrections recruitment and is now helping PDP reach a more targeted group of potential candidates  

• Relocated the Training Academy from an outdated facility to a larger, state-of-the-art headquarters on State Road to accommodate the growing class size 

PDP is intensely focused on making the employee experience better to ensure that more of our staff stay and grow with the PDP. To that end, we are in the process of introducing a mentor program to help support new staff as they acclimate to their new positions.  

Additionally, this month we will celebrate the grand opening of a high-quality health and wellness fitness center, free to our employees, which is equipped with hundreds of exercise pieces and cardio machines to ensure that our employees can reach their fitness goals. 

Growth in staffing numbers has coincided with a steep drop in population. The PDP recently saw its population hit a low of 3,855, a reduction of about 1,000 inmates from last summer. Decreased population means: 

• More out-of-cell time for the population 

• Increased recreation time, more programing, better and more effective delivery of services, which has led to a significant reduction of medical backlogs.