Jackson Jambalaya

That is really a lightweight list of qualifications for this position. The job should pay not much south of what we are paying our state superintendent of education and the resumes of finalists should reflect something similar in background-quality. Anything short of $180,000 is a joke and a degree less than a masters (with preference for a doctorate) should be dismissed from the pile.

The last thing we need is somebody whose goal is removing the word convict from the shirts or one who is into social experiments, holding endless meetings, throwing up metrics boards and writing sociology papers.

Is Glen Boyce on the search committee? Cause if he is, I think I might know who the next MDOC Commish is.

Every community college in this state has the funding to contract with professionals to perform Job Analysis and develop sound, solid position descriptions and job requirements. This is a free service that's been offered for decades by every local Jr. and Community college.

According to the criteria developed by this austere search committee, if you have the following credentials, you could be our next leader:

Graduated from Southern Miss with a Criminal Justice Degree and completed three summer internships at three police jails.

Shows up on time and speaks well in job interviews. Seemed to really hit it off with review committee in several interviews.

Ran an alternative school, planned cafeteria and supply budgets. Reduced incidents requiring corporal punishment.

Coached youth sports and improved student behavior and morale as evidenced by four consecutive good, annual performance reviews.

Job Descriptions should be tailored not only to screen candidates 'IN', but to screen them 'OUT'. What I see are requirements that will cull virtually NOBODY. If nothing else, this poor work will nothing more than work some poor slob to death scanning resumes while increasing the number of EEOC complaints from those who don't get an interview.

"Work experience dealing with correctional institutions is preferred."

Ya think? Do they really think that is necessary? Give me a break. I've seen a more in-depth listing of criteria for an animal control officer (aka dog catcher).

Tater said there are no plans to fund the MDOC at present....but he has a billion dollar reserve, and presently they're passing "rules" where no one can touch it. WTF. Ya think anybody's going to take on a multi-billion dollar mess where people's lives are on the line everyday? You can't even recruit enough truly qualified people within MS to work within MDOC. Laughable.

Perhaps when a federal judge threatens to fine them a $1000 a day for being out of compliance with a court order they'll tap into and drain that rainy day fund. That rainy day is here!

Many of you have never hired anyone and it shows. The stating of minimum standards doesn’t mean ALL who meet will ACTUALLY be considered or even make it past the first round of interviews. There are MANY experienced professionals with only a bachelor’s degree, which is why it’s the minimum. If a “doctorate is preferred” is stated, those with hands on experience won’t apply. (I honestly do not know how many actually want this gig given the mess they are walking into and the recent publicity...)

The reality is this diverse group agreed on MINIMUM qualifications. At least they made an announcement quickly versus bitching and fighting through the media. Working together is progress. I’m just praying some of these guys know some people outside the state they can encourage to apply. Someone with a proven record of prison management within their state. It’s going to take outside blood. And, I pray the new Commissioner’s FIRST hire is a gang expert to help create an inmate management plan.

Highly qualified individuals who view the job description and minimal qualifications expected of applicants will be in a real hurry to throw their names into this circus.

There is a reason Mississippi compares like it does - you really have to try hard to screw up this badly so regularly.

The low salary will probably also continue to discourage qualified applicants not wanting to take a massive salary and quality of life reduction in order to attempt to correct 100 years of willful and purposeful underfunding and neglect.


What does Gubner Tater really care about? Look at this MDOC Commissioner search process and the answer is patently obvious.

Come on, guys; so quick to be negative. I would assume (yes, I know) the qualifications are broad in order to cast a wide net for the best possible candidate. Just because you meet the minimum criteria does not mean you are guaranteed the job. So often in state government, jobs are written so specifically for a particular person and excellent candidates are excluded. Starting broad is practical.

The main qualification is the ability to CATCH A RED HOT POTATO.

>>>the qualifications are broad in order to cast a wide net for the best possible candidate.

Hell yeah! In terms some here will understand- Load up that howitzer with birdshot and git-r-dun! there's not to be none of that there focused approach with Tater's version of the Pheel Bryant continuation regime!

I'm pretty sure Mississippi needs SUPERMAN to fix the MDOC with the given constraints and history.

Rainy day fund won't be touched.

Unless a judge orders it....they won’t be able to claim their entire budget is encumbered. Go back to law school 101.

Ah, 3:27 - I posted at 2:19, have hired hundreds of people, recruited and on-boarded close to a thousand more. It's obvious you have no idea what you're talking about. The fisherman who casts a net closely woven enough to catch every fish in the ocean, will spend 90% of his time sorting and throwing back those for which he has no use.

Nobody writes a set of skills, education and background requirements in order to attract the lowest possible subset of the labor market. Well, other than you and this group.

"have hired hundreds of people, recruited and on-boarded close to a thousand more."

Must be an awful boss to have that much turnover. And terms like "on-board" are a dead giveaway.


Also, I suppose "Work experience dealing with correctional institutions" would include being a member of a convict chain gang.

9:59 - You really ought to just stick with staffing Krystals. You have zero clue.

9:59 - I'm familiar with the term 'to on-board'. It includes everything from recommendation to selection to ensuring federal and state laws are followed in pre and post hire documentation. And facility tours to scheduling others to handle orientation and proper induction. To arranging mentoring and lunch partners to meeting with family members to ensure a level of comfort with benefits and expectations (both ways) to introductions throughout the corporation to provision of materials and resources to assignment of vehicles, credit cards and travel documents to being damned sure the new ee knows who the positive and negative players are. And then I still might decide to fire him if I made a bad decision. And that's only the first four days.

But, I have my doubts about your chain gang experience.