(BOP) - Staffing Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) institutions continues to be the focus throughout the country. Recruitment, retention and relocation incentives have been offered to increase hiring across the agency. Some recent key takeaways from hiring efforts include the highest correctional officer applicant rate since October 2021, occurring in January 2023. At the end of February, more people were hired than left the Bureau through attrition - this is positive momentum towards increased staffing levels!
To continue the momentum, the Bureau has developed another comprehensive hiring initiative for the remainder of fiscal year 2023. A renewed focus on external hires, particularly for correctional officers and healthcare providers, has resumed. This initiative includes the continuation of internal moves and promotions; but the focus is on hiring from the outside. The Bureau's overall staffing complement will never increase without bringing in external applicants.
An exciting new component of this hiring campaign is a first-time ever recruitment incentive of $10,000 or 25% of initial salary (whichever is greater) for all correctional officer new hires who on-board between now and September 24, 2023.
Other changes related to recruitment and hiring are also now in effect. If an employee successfully recruits someone into the Bureau between now and September 24, 2023, the employee will receive $1,000. This referral award is only available for the first 1,000 new hires during the time period, and only if the individual successfully enters on duty and specifically acknowledges the employee referred them to join the Bureau! Additionally, there are ongoing monthly recruitment events at institutions across the country, consistent monitoring of the National Recruitment Office toll-free hotline during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, and a temporary change to the Core Value Assessment (CVA) -- the time required to wait to retake the CVA will decrease from 12 months to six months. Lastly, hiring managers and selecting officials are being encouraged to make their decisions within 60 days of receiving a certificate to help expedite the hiring process.
The Bureau is looking to recruit talented new employees, in all disciplines, to discover the many opportunities that exist in corrections and to an amazing career in law enforcement as corrections professionals!