LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three new pilot projects hope to boost recruitment and retention of Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) sworn staff, Mayor Greg Fischer and LMDC Director Dwayne Clark announced Tuesday. 

“While public safety staffing in general is a challenge right now, staffing at Corrections is especially challenging. We must address this problem with urgency,” Fischer said. “I appreciate LMDC leadership and the unions working together on this innovative approach to increase our staffing. The dedication of the men and women who serve the community as civilian and sworn staff at Corrections cannot be overstated.”

According to a release from the mayor's office, the pilot projects were developed in partnership with unions representing LMDC civilian and sworn staff, represented by FOP Corrections Union Lodge 77 and AFSCME Local 2629.

The first pilot project will provide financial incentives to LMDC employees who refer a candidate for sworn staff employment at Corrections. The release said incentives will be staggered as the recruit moves from training to swearing-in, with a potential total of $1,050. The staggered method is meant to encourage staff to mentor their recruits, the release added.

The second pilot project provides a hiring incentive to new recruits of $2,000. Successful candidates will receive $1,000 when they are sworn in and another $1,000 when they complete a probationary period.

Finally, the third pilot project is designed to improve retention among sworn and civilian LMDC staff. Eligible employees who continue their employment can receive up to $2,000 in Fiscal Year 2022, which began July 1. Eligible employees working Sept. 1, 2021, will receive $1,000. All eligible employees who are still working on June 1, 2022, will receive an additional $1,000.

“These incentives are meant to acknowledge the difficult job our highly dedicated staff is doing at a challenging time,” said Clark, “while also giving them the ability to further invest in Corrections’ future, by bringing us good candidates who will be mentored for success. We’re very excited about this.”

FOP President Daniel Johnson said, “FOP Lodge 77 is excited to announce these three new hiring and retention incentives, created in collaboration with the mayor’s office. We are hopeful this will be the first of many initiatives to address staffing at Louisville Metro Corrections.” 

The release stated that for now, the year-long pilot projects will operate only at Corrections, but if successful, they could serve as models for other Metro agencies.

More information about jobs with LMDC is available online.