CLEVELAND, OH – In a bid to fill growing vacancies, Cuyahoga County is condensing its traditional month-long hiring process for corrections officers down to two hours.
The first-of-its-kind hiring event is meant to be a one-stop shop, allowing candidates to apply, test, receive a background check, get a drug screening, and interview with administrators in the same day. Those who pass will immediately receive a contingent offer of employment, Cuyahoga County Jail Administrator Rhonda Gibson said.
The event is being held Wednesday, from 4-8 p.m., at the Westshore Professional Center, 9830 Lorain Ave.
“I wasn’t aware that it had never been done before,” Gibson said of the accelerated process. “I just kind of said we’re desperate, and we’ve got to do something at this point.”
The jail currently staffs about 550 corrections officers, well below the 725 authorized by the county council. Sheriff deputies and protective services officers have been required to fill in to achieve a safe staffing level.
Meanwhile, the inmate population continues to climb. On Thursday, the jail was reported to house 1,638 inmates. The rated capacity is 1,765.
Cuyahoga County Sheriff Christopher Viland believes faster onboarding could solve the problem and encourage more qualified candidates to apply.
“We’re actually hoping that the quality goes up because we’ll be able to get a candidate and give them a job offer, rather than potentially lose them to another employer or lose their interest over time,” he said.
Viland said the department is looking to hire at least 75 officers, “maybe more,” but they need the right candidates.
At base, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, be at least 21, and have no prior felony or major misdemeanor convictions, or pending cases against them.
Viland says he’s also looking for empathy, professionalism, and a drive to help move the jail forward after years of tumult.
The department has long had trouble attracting and retaining officers, especially following investigations into the unsafe conditions that led to a string of inmate deaths in 2018. Former jail director Ken Mills was recently sentenced to nine months in jail for misdemeanor counts of dereliction of duty.
Last month, the county implemented several initiatives aimed at reversing the trend, the primary one being a larger pay scale. The starting salary for a new hire is now $24 per hour.
Officials believe the incentive has spurred interest. Applications in the first eight months of the year ranged between 38 and 113. In September, when the raise was approved, submissions shot up to 230, records provided by the county show.
But Adam Chaloupka, an attorney for the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, previously told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that officers also seek improved working conditions.
At current staffing levels, officers work 12-hour shifts, and if they’re mandated to work overtime, they are locked in for 16 hours, sometimes without a lunch break, Chaloupka said. Officers who quit also have cited a lack of support from management and threats of discipline.
Viland said the department has implemented a number of changes over the last two years that “have made such a difference in how we operate.” But to keep moving the jail forward, he argued, requires adequate staffing.
“The single thing that is kind of holding us back right now is just getting qualified people in there,” Viland said. “If we had as many good bodies as we need, we would be top ranked at this point.”
Ad Choices