About 17,000 people are currently carving out a career in the MDOC. Over a thousand more are hoping for the chance to do the same, as evidenced by attendance at several department job fairs that have taken place in recent months.

The department is looking to hire 700 corrections officers during this fiscal year, and is collaborating with Michigan Works! (and in some areas, the Urban League) to sponsor job fairs throughout the state. So far they've been held in Grand Rapids, Jackson and Muskegon, with attendance in Muskegon topping out at more than 1,000 people. Another fair is scheduled in Greenville this month, and more are being planned for later in the year.

"We just began a new recruitment push, so we're working to increase our applicant pool," said Joanne Bridgford, Equal Employment Opportunity and Recruitment Administrator. "Corrections officers have a very important job, and our goal is to get the best of the best."

The positions are full time with benefits, and the pay is $14-$17 per hour the first year. Some are new positions, but openings were primarily created through promotions and attrition. Prospective hires were told they should be willing to relocate, as most vacancies are in the Upper Peninsula.

"The job fairs are helping the recruitment in two ways," Bridgford said. "They're a way to provide information to people who are already familiar with the Corrections field, and the collaboration with Michigan Works! exposes the department to people who would have never normally considered it as a career option." "One of our selling points is the fact that we are the Department of Corrections," she continued. "Corrections is here and we're not going anywhere. There will always be a need for our services."

Michigan Department of Corrections, FYI Newsletter 011107