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DOC credits recruitment changes for falling vacancies but mandatory overtime remains a concern
Summary
DOC told lawmakers it has reduced correction‑officer vacancies by expanding trainee hiring to age 18 and shortening hiring timelines, but mandatory overtime rose slightly and the department still faces staffing challenges in nursing and other licensed roles.
Department of Corrections leaders defended recruitment and retention measures, saying they have reduced vacancies while acknowledging persistent staffing pressures that drive overtime.
Secretary Laurel Harry said the department lowered the minimum trainee age to 18 in January 2023 and that the change has produced better retention: the DOC reported hiring 211 individuals under age 21 and lower early‑separation rates for that cohort. “For the first 9 months, only 4.7 percent of those…
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