Keep Bailing

Thanks to the economic downturn, over 500 job seekers applied for civilian work in the Orange County jail system, forcing the OC Sheriff’s Department to cut off applications just 36 hours after opening them last month.

Sheriff’s officials were hoping to get enough people to sign up for the next class of correctional services assistants, said spokesman John McDonald, but the rate that they got them: “Surprised a lot of us here.” The class, which only has 50 seats, educates civilian employees in how to assist sworn personnel at the jails.

The pay scale for these new jobs ranges from $37,211 a year during training to $56,992 maximum, including county health and pension benefits.  The department wants to train enough civilian workers to eventually make up 35% of their jail staff, which will save the financially beleaguered county about $10 million a year.

This was the first class open to all applicants. The department’s initial class of 23 men and women was drawn from internal candidates who graduated in December. The Sheriff’s Department says it will reopen applications in the near future for the next class.