Strategic Marketing Plan for the Peace Officer Recruitment Section, 2002

• NCJ Number: 196821
• Author(s): Katie S. Hagen
• Date Published: July 2002
• Length: 36 pages
• Corporate Author: California Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: California Dept of Corrections
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This strategic marketing plan for the recruitment of correctional staff in California outlines three main strategies: the continuation of a statewide coordinated recruitment effort, the use of current employees as "recruiters-at-large;" and the establishment of a community base of qualified applicants.

Abstract

Performance measures were used to test the effectiveness of these strategies and the supporting tactics. The performance measures were to maintain the current intake of correctional officer (CO) applications; to achieve a 10-percent increase in the number of medical technical assistant (MTA) applications received for the current fiscal year; and a 15-percent increase in MTA hiring statewide. The Peace Officer Recruitment Section (PORS) was established within the Selection and Standards Branch of the California Department of Corrections in March of 2000 to stem the dramatic decrease in CO applicants and increase the number of both CO and MTA applications coming into the selection pipeline. The number of CO applicants increased by 40.8 percent in fiscal year 2000-2001 and by 30 percent in fiscal year 2001-2002; and the number of MTA applicants increased by 87.3 percent in fiscal year 2000-2001 and by 14 percent in fiscal year 2001-2002. Still, the need for staff at the State's 33 institutions is significant. Approximately 58 percent of correctional employees initially learned of employment opportunities through a friend or relative. The PORS intends to provide additional resources for use by current employees in the "Step Up, Stand Out" program. Because of the success of applicants with college degrees in the selection process, recruitment efforts will be focusing on recruiting at the community colleges and universities, with attention to the criminal justice, law enforcement, and nursing programs. The PORS also intends to integrate the Corrections Department into community planning related to job partnerships, high schools, community organizations, law enforcement academies, and community colleges that highlight corrections as a career choice. A fiscal year 2002-2003 PORS budget is included. 2 tables and an 8-item bibliography