So is that one of the departments that we're having difficulty in soliciting applicants? COMMISSIONER GIORLA: Yes, sir. The number of overall applicants has fallen, and I don't have those figures. The number of qualified applicants once they complete the background investigation process has fallen. And I 42 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. don't know whether there's somewhat of a general disinterest with young people in law enforcement and associated occupations or, you know, there are other parts of the economy that are just so good that people don't seek such employment. But we're doing everything we can to address those vacancies.
Is there a cap on the hiring for correctional officers -- COMMISSIONER GIORLA: No, sir.
-- age-wise? COMMISSIONER GIORLA: The age of appointment is years old and -- 18
What's the 19 upward threshold? 20 COMMISSIONER GIORLA: There is no upward threshold. Provided an applicant can qualify for the job -- that means passing psychological testing, physical testing, et cetera -- they can take the job at any age. 43 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc.
Because you just said that there may be some concerns about young people not wanting to get involved. Is the recruiting or the recruitment, will it be only for young people? COMMISSIONER GIORLA: Oh, no. 9 I'm sorry.
I just know that a lot of people out here -- COMMISSIONER GIORLA: No. We extend our recruitment efforts to all ages. We send people to the state employment offices. We send people to colleges and universities. We send them to community events. We have a Correctional Employee Week in May where we distribute among employee families, and we try and recruit from other disciplines within our facility. From the food service staff we've recruited some folks. We've recruited some people from our maintenance operations to convert them to become correctional 44 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. officers. It's just --
Is the problem more having the appropriate number of applicants or is the problem once we get the applicants, we start the testing, the psychological, the drug testing and all the physical aspects of the job? Is that where the problem lies, is getting people actually to a point where they're qualified to be a corrections officer? COMMISSIONER GIORLA: I believe it's a combination of both, although I don't have solid figures here in front of me. I do have some past experience in background investigations. One of the things we pursued about a year ago was a continuous testing through the Personnel Department, because the civil service process takes quite a length of time to hire someone, and not only a young person but somebody who is older and perhaps has a family to support, they can't really afford to wait 45 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. six months, eight months or a year to get a job, especially if they're unsure of whether or not they'll pass all the qualifying criteria. We've tried to condense that process. With our next eligible list, we're going to eliminate the polygraph, because we faced some concerns about whether or not that's technically accurate. We're going to a hair testing for drug use instead, similar to what the Police Department does. We're able to conduct that test ourselves with the assistance of the Employee Medical Unit. So anything we do to condense the process in addition to the recruiting, we're trying.
I have a 46 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. question for -- can I ask him?
Thank you. Two weeks ago we approved appropriations related to our reentry programs that were moved from our MORE Office over to the Prisons. There were some providers that were listed in that appropriations. My understanding was that as of last week they still had not gotten official notice or contracting, and I'm talking specifically about Centro Pedro Claver. Is there any updates on that that you can provide? COMMISSIONER GIORLA: I wasn't aware of that and I don't have any updates at this time. I do know that the funding for some of those programs came from MORE, the Mayor's Office of Reentry Services. Some were supplied by the 47 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. Mayor's Office of Community Services, along with the Prisons.
They were moved from MORE oversight over to the Prisons and they were supposed to get contracted directly from the Prisons. They haven't heard -- this is the only program I have in the Latino community. We cut their budget 50 percent, and we're eight months into a fiscal year and they still don't have a contract or notification of what their allocation is going to be. So can you address that? COMMISSIONER GIORLA: I will check that out and I will get back to you.
Good morning. COMMISSIONER GIORLA: Good morning. 48 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc.
Commissioner, the last time you were here I expressed my interest in following up on the folks that are in that program for work release that have opportunities to go to work in Fairmount Park and be paid. COMMISSIONER GIORLA: Yes, sir.
I'd appreciate it if today you have any information on where we are with that, or we could schedule a meeting, because the funding was there and for some other reasons, the program never moved forward, because Fairmount Park was ready to accept the first six almost six, eight months ago to come work, but, again, there was some reasons that that didn't happen. I'd like to try in this new Administration to get that back on track, because, again, there are many individuals at the prison that have been programmed for work release that have no 25 jobs, and with the Fairmount Park 49 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. interested in employing these individuals and not doing that is, in my opinion, not a good thing. So I'd like to try to get whatever the obstacles are dealt with and back on track. So if we could schedule a meeting or you have something to tell us today for the record, I'd appreciate it. COMMISSIONER GIORLA: I can tell you, sir, that after your previous inquiry, that I asked about the history of the project at the Prisons. My understanding, that some of the labor unions had significant objections to that project, that the Prisons at the time was exploring another project in conjunction with the Recreation Department to employ part-time work release inmates during the summer to complete certain maintenance projects. I certainly will schedule a meeting and notify your office, and appreciate any help you can give us with that. 50 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc.
I think it's so important, because, again, I've learned from you and others that many of your inmates come back because when they leave the jail, they have no money in their account. And there are employment opportunities that we had available, because we were going to teach some of these men and women trades, so when they left incarceration, that they could have a job. And I remember as clear as a bell when one of your executives said to me, An inmate that leaves here and finds a job rarely comes back, and that stuck with me. So I appreciate your interest in getting this to work. COMMISSIONER GIORLA: Yes, sir.
Just to 51 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. reiterate the -- you have several contracts that go out to providers that actually provide training? COMMISSIONER GIORLA: Yes, sir.
You're going to provide us with and the Chair with statistics on how well they do and what areas they provide for skills and also the types of vocations that they are steered or trained towards. Do you remember the question that -- COMMISSIONER GIORLA: I just forwarded a response to your earlier question yesterday, a written response to the Council President, and that was regarding the minority participation in our vending contracts.
Sure. COMMISSIONER GIORLA: If you would request additional information on the programming and the participation by inmates, I can supply that, sir.
Are 52 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. there any other questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Is there anyone else here to testify for or against these bills? (No response.)
Thank you, gentlemen. COMMISSIONER GIORLA: Thank you.
That ends our public hearing on Appropriations. Now we will go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode on Bill 080150.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill 080150 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
All 53 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. those in favor? (Aye.)
Therefore, Bill 080150 will be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez for Bill 080151.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill 12 080151 be moved out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Therefore, Bill 080151 will be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation. The Chair recognizes Councilman 54 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. Kelly on Bill 080152.
Madam Chair, I move that Bill No. 080152 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation.
Therefore, Bill 080152 will be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller on Bill 080153.
Madam Chair, I move that Bill No. 080153 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation. 55 3/5/08 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 080150, etc. (Duly seconded.)
Therefore, Bill 080153 will be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation. Thank you very much. (Committee on Appropriations adjourned at 11:15 a.m.) - - - 56 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on March 5, 2008, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)