COLUMBIA, S.C. — Trying to be more competitive and retain recruits, the Detention Center Ad Hoc Committee of Richland County recommended to the full County Council that the starting salary range for detention officers at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center be raised.
Detention officers would be paid $36,500.
According to the recommendation, the Detention Center Ad Hoc Committee believes "there would be no fiscal impact as the additional compensation would be paid from allocated funds for 50 detention officer positions that would be temporarily frozen."
The Ad Hoc Committee's report also points out that "as of June 4, 2021, there were approximately 141 detention officer vacancies." The goal of raising starting salaries while temporarily freezing 50 positions would allow Richland County to reach a staffing level of 214 detention officers. While the committee realizes a full staffing level would be 264 detention officers, it cites an evaluation of staff by detention center management that indicates Alvin S Glenn could operate effectively with a temporary reduction in staff.
The salary increase would put Richland County in a more competitive position -- compared to other counties with populations of 200,000 or greater.
Examples of salary ranges cited in the report include:
- Charleston County: $33,041 to $56,852
- Greenville County: $37,842 to $51,977
- Fairfield County: $29,184 to $40,858
- Kershaw County: $25,621 to $37,855
- Lexington County: $36,891 to $55,337
- Richland County (current): $32,210 to $51,536
- Sumter County: $29,000 to $34,000.
If you're interested you can head to the Richland County website and click on the careers tab.
