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DOC officials say hiring incentives are increasing recruit class size but vacancies and overtime remain concerns
Summary
At the June 11 Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety hearing, DOC leaders described progress from a $400,000 incentive for hiring and retention and reported the largest recruit class since 2020, while also noting roughly 106 correctional officer vacancies and historically high overtime expenditures.
The Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety pressed the DC Department of Corrections on staffing, recruitment, vacancies and overtime at its June 11 budget hearing.
Chair Brooke Pinto framed the staffing discussion around safety and said the committee "look[s] forward to discussing with director Faust today other barriers they may be having to recruitment and hiring." Director Tom Faust said the Mayor's FY26 budget provides $400,000 "to support ongoing efforts to bolster recruitment, hiring, and retention of DOC officers through our Bonus Retention and Referral Incentive Program." He said the program has produced a recruit class set to begin in late June that will be "the largest class since prior to the 2020 pandemic." Deputy Director Michelle Wilson and other DOC staff described an active pipeline, with "well over 60 people just in the various stages of the process" and a near-term class of about 40 recruits.
DOC testified it has about 710 field correctional officer positions authorized and roughly 106 vacancies for correctional officer positions. The department reported an average daily population of about 1,900 residents and said FY24 overtime actuals exceeded $30,000,000; the FY26 budget includes an additional one-time $400,000 for hiring incentives and a proposed overtime budget increase (the mayor's proposal includes roughly $4,000,000 added to right-size overtime and DOC's FY26 overtime line is approximately $18,000,000 per testimony discussion).
DOC officials said they are using multiple tools to recruit and retain staff: the incentive program, a full-time wellness coordinator, expanded training, and strengthened hiring events (including weekend testing). Faust said the department has implemented more aggressive day-to-day overtime management and reported recent pay periods have come under targeted overtime goals.
Why it matters: Staffing levels affect daily operations, security, and resident care in the jail. High overtime is a recurring budget pressure and a sign of persistent vacancies.
What remains unresolved: Committee members asked for continued monitoring and follow-up; DOC acknowledged vacancies remain and said some overtime levels will persist while the department continues hiring and managing coverage.
