Staffing and Retention Increases Due to Enhanced Benefits and Salary, New Recruitment and Training Efforts
The Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) has seen a significant increase in staffing, with numbers steadily climbing toward pre-COVID-19 records. This improvement has not been because of luck or a temporary blip – it is because of a strategic new approach to recruitment, under the leadership of Commissioner Michael R. Resnick, Esq. and additional support and resources from the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Human Resources.
Last week alone, PDP held two events that demonstrate the results of the successful recruitment effort. The first was a graduation ceremony for its newest class of 53 cadets now ready to take positions within the prisons systems.
Curtis Jones, Jr., 4th District Councilmember, City of Philadelphia, delivered the keynote address for the graduation ceremony. Councilmember Jones congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and acknowledged every “wife, husband, mother, father and child” who helped to see the cadets through.
“Being a correctional officer means you are helping somebody who made a mistake before you got there,” said Councilmember Jones. “You have the opportunity to help someone who needs a second chance. We are proud of you as you take on this new role, and we will support you.”
In addition to the graduating cadets, 26 existing members of the correctional staff advanced in rank: two members were promoted deputy warden, eight to captain, seven to lieutenant, and nine to sergeant.
During the ceremony, Commissioner Resnick expressed gratitude as they took this next step in their career and moved up the ladder. He urged them to reflect on a supervisor they respected as a role model — someone who was fair and embodied the necessary qualities to be a great leader as they take on their new roles.
The second event last week was a Command Hour held at the new training center in which Commissioner Resnick addressed the largest recorded cadet class in the department’s history – totaling 71 – as they begin training and will graduate this July. This historic milestone demonstrates the steps the Department of Prisons is taking forward to reach goals of full staffing. Of course, that path is long, but strides are being made in the right direction.
The Command Hour is an opportunity for the incoming class to receive encouraging words and motivational messages, all the while having the opportunity to engage with the Commissioner in a Q&A session. As they embark on their nearly three-months-long journey through training to become correctional officers, it is important to the PDP that everyone has an opportunity to express themselves and have their input and ideas heard.
In the last year, the department has:
- Hired more than 300 correctional officers
- Reduced officer vacancy rate by about 13 percent
- Dropped attrition into the single digits
- Opened a state-of-the-art training academy
- Raised PDP recruitment team efforts
- Begun contracting with a national recruitment firm specializing in in law enforcement recruitment
PDP has benefited from the Parker Administration’s new staff recruitment campaign, which is focused on doing “your part” to make Philadelphia the best it can be. As the department continues to expand its efforts, the PDP will continue to remain rooted in safety and building a more compassionate correctional system. Not only through outreach and retention but also through investments in the growth and leadership development of those serving already.
We hope more people reading this blog post will consider a job with the Philadelphia Department of Prisons and/or suggest it to a friend or family member. It’s a great career with a lot of room for growth and impact. Visit our Correctional Officer job listing to learn more and apply.
