Bristol County makes progress in hiring corrections officers, reducing forced overtime

DARTMOUTH, Mass. (WPRI) — The Bristol County House of Corrections has dramatically increased its staff, adding more than 90 new officers in the past year, Sheriff Paul Heroux said Monday.

Heroux noted that during his 2022 campaign for sheriff, he learned from family and friends of Bristol County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) employees that morale among them was low, with forced overtime a key factor.

During this time, the department was struggling with staffing due to “turnover that outpaced recruitment,” according to Heroux.

However, he said that trend has changed.

In the four classes prior to Heroux’s inauguration, BCSO recruited 41 corrections officers (COs) to the academy. Since he took office in early 2023, it has recruited 132 COs, resulting in a net gain of 93 new officers.

RELATED: Bristol County Jail Undergoes Renovations to Prevent Inmate Suicides

Heroux emphasized that while he is not “declaring ‘Mission Accomplished,’” significant progress has been made.

To mitigate forced overtime, he said they have implemented several initiatives, including appointing a full-time recruiter, increasing recruiting bonuses and offering accelerated pay.

Additionally, he said the planned closure of the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford is expected to bring 40 to 50 officers back to the Dartmouth facility.

MORE: Heroux tours Ash Street prison after proposing closure

Heroux explained that there are typically two COs per housing unit during the first and second shifts, and one CO during the third shift. He plans to adjust the staffing from the current 2-2-1 to 3-3-2 in an effort to “make housing units safer, provide COs with more support, and improve morale.”

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