Page 65 - 2021_American Jails NovDec

AJA Industry AffIlIAte MeMbers
Guest Editorial
Continued from page 5
American Correctional Association
American Federation of State,
County, and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME)
first contract is over. First-time They are simply burnt out Association of Women Executives in
re-enlistment rates vary from with respect to the stresses that Corrections (AWEC)
year to year and from one military service entails. While Bill Glass Behind the Walls
6
service branch to another, but military leaders undoubtedly
for several decades now only wish things were different, they Catholic Charities
about 22 to 40% of first-enlist- also understand that this is the
ment service members re-enlist nature of military service. It Colorado Jail Association
for a second term of service plans and operates under this Companions Journeying Together
(22% Marines, 25% Navy, 26% reality.
Army, and 40% Air Force). The The military has adapted to Correction Captains’ Association, Inc.
3
Department of Defense spends the idea that many who enlist Freedom Forever Ministries
millions of dollars in retention will find the stressful, regi-
efforts, with most of this money mented work of being a service Good News Jail & Prison Ministry
spent on re-enlistment bonus member to be a career choice IAHV Prison Program/Formally
incentives. Nevertheless, mili- that does not suit them as a Prison Smart
2
tary leaders also accept the fact decades-long calling. And the
that military service takes great military presumably under- Institute for Higher Education Policy
personal sacrifice—a sacrifice stands that it is in the best Michigan Sheriffs’ Coordinating &
most are not willing to make interest of the organization and Training Council
for their entire adulthood. the individual in question that
The available research those who do not want to be Middle Atlantic States Correctional
Association (MASCA)
reveals that the primary reason here leave in light of the stakes.
that service members do not re- Missouri Sheriffs’ Association
enlist is that they have grown When Retention Is the
tired of the personal sacrifices Problem National Commission on Correctional
Health Care
and rigors of military life. Retaining corrections officers
They were willing to make that is typically described as a good New Jersey County Jail Wardens
sacrifice for their nation for a thing, and understandably so. Association
time, but not for their whole Replacing a trained and certi- North Carolina Jail Administrators’
adult life. They want to regain fied officer with a new recruit is Association
their personal freedoms and expensive and time-consuming.
be home more often with their But, in looking to your experi- Policy Research, Inc.
families. It is not fear of danger ence in corrections, how many The Rape Crisis Center
that drives their decisions, as officers who are ultimately
retention tends to be higher branded as “bad apples” inside San Joaquin County Correctional
during periods of war. And it the agency or in the public eye Officers Association
is also not a financial decision, actually began their career as South Carolina Jail Administrators’
as most first-enlistment service serviceable corrections officers? Association
members enter lower-paying How often have you seen high-
jobs or become college students level performers become toxic Story Chain
upon first leaving the military. as they hit the point of mid- University Enterprises Corporation
career? Would those men and
women better serve their agen- Virginia Association of Regional Jails
cies and their families, in the WTS Medical STAFFING, LLC
long run, by finding another
line of work? Wisconsin Jail Association

AMERICANJails NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021 | 63