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Special to the Advance

Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Commissioner John Hamm announced Tuesday pay increases and new pay grades for correctional officers statewide.

The pay increase is a step in the commissioner’s plan to strengthen the department’s recruiting and retention efforts, according to a release.

The ADOC has been working closely with the state personnel department, with the full support of Gov. Kay Ivey, to overhaul salaries paid to existing and prospective employees in ADOC’s correctional officer classification series.

Initiatives so far include an increase in starting salary for correctional officer trainees – $55,855 at maximum security facilities, $53,245 at medium security facilities and $50,712 at work release/community work centers; a pay grade/salary increases for current correctional officers; new promotional classification established; and expanded location differentials.

“While I am proud of our successes so far, they represent the beginning of an ambitious agenda,” Hamm said in a release. “Some of the projects we have prioritized, but are not limited to, are building new prison facilities; implementing a modern inmate management system; streamlining the correctional officer hiring, retention, and training processes; and actively supporting the reinstatement of Tier 1 retirement benefits for all employees.”