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Q&A
Warden positions and efforts to fill vacancies
2:14:30
ยท
3 min
Council Member Stevens and Commissioner Maginley-Liddie discuss the current state of warden positions in correctional facilities and efforts to fill vacancies.
- It's revealed that there are six filled warden positions out of 16 budgeted positions.
- The department is working on increasing these positions and making them available for individuals to apply.
- A new cohort of 13 deputy wardens is starting, indicating efforts to develop leadership within the department.
- There's a focus on cultivating talent internally and providing training opportunities for staff advancement.
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:14:30
So we have one warden per facility.
Althea Stevens
2:14:33
One warden per facility.
2:14:35
So they only And
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:14:36
then we have an acting warden who oversees the hospital and transportation and the courts.
Althea Stevens
2:14:43
According to DOC staffing report, the department is budgeted for 16 warden positions, but you've only filled seven.
2:14:50
How does the vacancies affect the operations within the facility?
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:14:55
So I don't believe it is seven.
2:14:57
I believe we have a total I'm sorry?
2:15:01
Six.
2:15:02
Six?
2:15:03
Okay.
2:15:04
So we have six wardens and one acting warden and we're working on increasing those positions and making them available for individuals to apply.
2:15:16
As of yesterday I also announced for deputy wardens we've just we're going to start a cohort of a class for 13 deputy wardens that starts on Monday.
Althea Stevens
2:15:28
Okay well like what are you doing to kind of like get these positions filled because that's more than half of the staff that you're allotted for it.
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:15:37
Well we're working vigorously to ensure that we are providing opportunities, we're providing training and ensuring that the individuals at the ranks below are actually stepping up to the ranks above and getting that opportunity.
Althea Stevens
2:15:51
Do you have a you you have an inkling of why folks wouldn't be stepping up to be a warden?
2:16:00
Is there not trainings that they don't
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:16:02
feel like they're Listen, the department prior what was done is that they hired wardens from outside, right.
2:16:10
There was a provision in the charter that we had allowed for people to come from outside.
2:16:18
Majority of those people are no longer with the department and so we are investing in the talent and the people that are there, cultivating them, providing them with the training and the opportunities so that they know that they can step up to the next level.
2:16:31
So again I just mentioned that we have a class of 13 deputy wardens.
2:16:35
You know it it is something that we're
Althea Stevens
2:16:37
And is deputy wardens a new line or
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:16:40
No it's not a new line but they support the warden in the facility.
2:16:44
But what I'm saying is that we're working as a leadership team to cultivate the next generation so that a hundred and thirty years from now there are other people working in the department and the department's fully staffed and that the bench continues to be a deep one?
Althea Stevens
2:17:00
Yeah I mean definitely cultivating staff is always to me makes the most sense.
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:17:06
Yeah but there's been real there's been no real investment in the people at the Department of Correction and so that's what we're taking on and making sure that we're doing that.
2:17:14
I mean even we had had trainings for public speaking training, just just things sort of to expose people that they know that they have the opportunity that they can.
Althea Stevens
2:17:25
And that wasn't the culture before?
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:17:27
Not necessarily.
2:17:28
I mean I think we are just I think I think the real focus is to ensure that people have opportunities to do so and that they know that they can take advantage of those opportunities.