As many people know by now, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department is seeking qualified applicants to join its detention staff, which runs and patrols the county’s two jails – one in downtown Greensboro and one in downtown High Point.
Like many businesses in the community and across the country, Guilford County’s jails are experiencing a dramatic shortage of workers. To help remedy that situation, the Sheriff’s Department – which runs the jails – is conducting two information sessions on how to become a certified detention officer and is also offering a generous signing bonus.
The information sessions will be held on Wednesday, June 15, at 6 p.m. and on Thursday, June 16, also at 6 p.m.
Both sessions will be held at the Sheriff’s Department Administrative Office at 400 W. Washington St. in Greensboro.
Promotional information for the event states, “Regardless of whether you have or have not applied but would like to gain additional employment information about the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, please join us during one of these informative sessions where we will discuss Pay, Incentives, Certification, Schedules, etc.”
The information also brings up something that does seem to be helping the problem lately: Guilford County is offering a $4,000 signing bonus for detention officers.
The job is no doubt a difficult one – but many find it rewarding as well. It is also a much more attractive job than it was 10 years ago before the county opened a giant new jail in downtown Greensboro and alleviated a massive inmate overpopulation problem.
Anyone who wants to sign up for one of the information sessions may call the department’s Personnel and Training Division at 336-641-3387.
Saw a billboard in South Carolina $7,000 signing bonus to work for South Carolina Correction Authority (jails.)
Yes, literally a huge paid bill board.
You might want to read the fine print on how one is supposed to obtain that $4k cash bonus. I am sure it is not as simple as signing the dotted line.
If you want out of state detention officer candidates you have to consider they have to take a commission mandated 174-hour course that takes approximately 5 weeks. Then add local housing cost to that. Any cash bonus you give would be used up pretty quickly. I guess this is a start, but falls short if that’s your only plan. My opinion is it takes a very special person to work in jails, after all you’re locked up for 8/12 hours with people with behavior problems. It’s a very demanding job.
did we have this problem when BJ was sheriff
No joe we did not, but we sure do now with Mr. Rogers with his Bow tie and Cowboy hat in the neighborhood. It looks like it will continue for the next 4 years, because Republicans won’t come out and vote. Just look at the Primary #’s.
The first thing I did as sheriff was bring the position up to the pay level of patrol officers. Detention officers across the state and in Guilford were underpaid and under appreciated. Pay is just a part of the problem. The officer need to feel they are supported. The present sheriff has promoted and led poorly When the sheriff calls the inmates, which are wards of the state, residents, and openly comes in hugging and hobnobbing with them, it gives the prisoner a sense of entitlement and causes the officer to wonder where he or she stands. When the sheriff curtails religious activity by volunteers, promotes the sense of entitlement it also adds to the problems in the jail.
My motto was if we could get them to the foot of the cross, increase their morale values, whatever the religion, we could keep them out of our homes unless invited. I also pushed for prisoner accountability and started the program in the jail to get the prisoners help for addiction, finding housing and jobs. The officers were to treat the prisoner with respect, but make them adhere to the law and rules, requiring them to make an effort. The many staff I have talked with say the job has become even more stressful, even more dangerous because of the lack of support and leadership.. The media reports and turmoil in the jail proves that. Many on staff are just trying to hold on until new leadership arrives. If it doesn’t, then you will probably see a mass exodus. Guilford voters, don’t let them down.
You lost because a certain group made it happen.
Who would want this job now? This is dangerous work, some of the dirt rubs off on the Deputies, hardens their outlook on life. Didn’t we have a plea for more Deputies, “no experience necessary”?
You get what you ask for.