HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) has achieved a substantial reduction in its corrections officer vacancy rate, which fell to 4.8 percent as of the end of January. This marks a considerable improvement from the 10.5 percent vacancy rate recorded in late 2022, reflecting the department’s focused efforts on recruitment and retention.
This reduction has broad-reaching implications for the corrections system, enhancing safety for staff and inmates alike, while also reducing reliance on costly overtime. According to DOC Secretary Dr. Laurel R. Harry, the effort has directly addressed concerns about employee burnout while achieving significant financial savings for taxpayers.
“Everything we do begins with people, and our recruitment and retention team is out in the community virtually every day, engaging with potential applicants to share the benefits and opportunities in the field of corrections,” Secretary Harry explained. “As corrections officer vacancies decrease, our facilities become safer, more cost-effective, and better equipped to meet the needs of the incarcerated population.”
Recognizing that competition for corrections staff is a nationwide challenge, the DOC established a dedicated Recruitment and Retention Division in late 2022 to tackle the issue. Its proactive approach included attendance at over 750 job fairs, university visits, military programs, and community events in 2024, underscoring its commitment to expanding its applicant pool.
The department has also prioritized attracting veterans through its participation in the U.S. Army’s Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) program. This initiative guarantees Army personnel a job interview with the DOC following their military service, highlighting the organization’s emphasis on incorporating veterans into its team. Currently, the DOC employs more military veterans than any other agency under Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth government.
To further expand its candidate pipeline, Pennsylvania reduced the minimum age for corrections officer trainees from 21 to 18 and streamlined hiring processes to eliminate more than ten days from the application timeline. Additionally, a waiver was secured to allow non-residents to apply, reflecting the DOC’s strategy to attract a more diverse workforce. Notably, employee referrals have also played a pivotal role in recruitment, with nearly 800 referrals submitted by staff in 2024.
Corrections officer trainees are provided with extensive professional preparation, including five weeks of paid training at the DOC Academy in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, followed by approximately one year of on-the-job training. The department offers trainees an annual starting salary of $46,986, which increases to $49,156 upon promotion to full corrections officer status after training completion. These competitive benefits aim to secure long-term careers within the corrections system.
Secretary Harry commended the progress made and underscored that additional work lies ahead. “Addressing the vacancy rate is a priority of the entire department, and I am proud that we have received nearly 800 referrals from current staff members last year. We still have more work to do to continue to bring the vacancy rate down, but this data shows our efforts are paying off, and the successes will become even more apparent as the corrections officer trainees hired in 2024 complete their training and put their skills and talents to use at the facilities they serve.”
These improvements are not only a milestone for the DOC but also exemplify a broader effort to ensure professionalism, safety, and efficiency within Pennsylvania’s corrections system. Moving forward, the department plans to build on these accomplishments and continue to recruit and retain high-caliber individuals whose work contributes to the safety of correctional facilities and surrounding communities.
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