Male Recruit Shortage in Corrections

The Corrections Department is in a desperate race to fill its ranks with qualified male recruits, so short on men that Commissioner Doan Cleare is bending rules to keep them — while women, though highly capable, face stricter standards and a long waiting list. Originally targeting 70 men and 30 women, the latest cohort ended up with 60 men and 40 women, highlighting the gender imbalance. With over 400 women on hold, the department is actively hunting for men — many of whom lack the basic five Bahamas Junior Certificate passes, often arriving with only two or three. Commissioner Cleare links the shortage to deeper societal issues in New Providence and Grand Bahama, where educational gaps and social pressures push young men toward gangs or school disengagement. This crisis mirrors similar struggles across uniformed services since 2012, and the department now urgently needs recruits with technical skills — plumbing, fencing, air conditioning — as experienced staff in those areas vanish. Despite the hurdles, the trainee program boasts a remarkably low dropout rate of just 1-2%, proving that once recruits are in, they’re committed — even under the department’s strict standards. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c5a92494ecefa41b