Approximately 60 of the 204 anticipated positions at Correction Corporation of America’s (CCA) Jenkins Correctional Center have been filled as of last week.

Warden Ralph Kemp said that 51 correctional officers have been hired and nine administrative positions have been filled. The correctional officers are currently undergoing Georgia Basic Correctional Officer training in Statesboro. Ninety-five correctional officers will eventually be employed at the facility.

“We are continuing to interview daily for positions,” said Warden Kemp.

However, wading through the 3,700 applications received thus far is time consuming.

“I knew we would get a lot of applications, but I did not anticipate that many. It would be nice if we could offer jobs to more than 204 persons,” he added.

It is not known at this time exactly how many of those hired thus far are Millen and Jenkins County residents, but Warden Kemp noted that he was trying to “zero in on those folks.”

CCA is scheduled to take control of the building on Jan. 24 with deliveries set up to begin on the same day. A dedication ceremony is planned for March 1 with the first prisoners scheduled to arrive March 8.

Warden Kemp explained that 30 percent of the inmates housed at the Jenkins Correctional Center were required to be “ chronic care inmates,” which means that they would need a lot of medical attention. While the facility will have a physician on staff, the local hospital will be used as “our first stop”, he said.

Meals will be contracted with an outside provider who will be responsible for hiring their own staff. Those approximately 10 positions will be advertised locally, Warden Kemp said.

As a means of keeping the community informed on what is taking place at the facility, Warden Kemp said a Community Relations Board was being formed to meet quarterly with CCA officials.

The $57 million, 1,150 bed, facility is expected to generate $8 million annually in salaries and benefits, and CCA anticipates paying $1.2 million in combined property taxes and utilities.

CCA currently operates five prisons and detention centers in the state, employing approximately 1,500 corrections professionals with about $54 million annual payroll and paying nearly $8 million in property taxes and utilities annually. The company is the nation’s largest provider of partnership corrections to federal, state and local government, operating more than 60 facilities in 20 states and the District of Columbia.

Those interested in applying for positions at the Jenkins Correctional Center should go to www.ccajobs.com and fill out an application online.