News

Actions

Hampton Roads Regional Jail takes action to hire more employees

Posted at 4:11 PM, Apr 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-20 19:22:45-04

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - It's a challenging but rewarding job, according to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail Interim Superintendent David Hackworth.

He is looking to fill about 30 job vacancies and is taking action to find the right people.

Officer Patricia Cox has been working in the Hampton Roads Regional Jail for the past 17 years.

“There are challenges, but it's never a dull moment. That's what I love about the jail; we are a team,” said Officer Cox.

They are a team that needs more players now and in the future.

“The jail has been open for over 20 years. We have staff members here that are eligible for retirement and can go whenever they want to,” said Hackworth.

The Hampton Roads Regional Jail was thrust into the limelight after the deaths of two inmates, which sparked a federal investigation in December 2016.

The jail has received a lot of negative attention in the last few years.

“It’s been hard with the media blitz, but for the most part we come together to support each other. There's a job to be done and we're doing it and giving it 100 percent,” said Officer Cox.

Interim Superintendent Hackworth started just four weeks ago. He’s already hired 12 people and hopes to fill more of the vacancies soon.

He said this job isn’t for everyone.

“It takes a special person to be here and to be able to talk to these individuals, listen to these individuals and deal with them on a daily basis, so it's a very challenging job,” said Hackworth.

Many of the inmates have medical issues and mental illness inside the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, which can make working there more demanding in some aspects, but jail officials said it can also be extremely rewarding.

“It gives you that sense of pride that you came in, you did your job, you contributed to this facility and the community,” said Hackworth.

Cox said it is especially rewarding when you see inmates improving their lives.

“If they've got new jobs and they're moving onward and upward, I just makes my heart smile,” said Officer Cox.

The Spring Job Fair is Saturday April 21, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.