Chapter 3 – Personnel, Training, and Employee Relations

33010.18 Watch Assignment Preference by Seniority

• Watch assignment preference by seniority shall:

  • Apply to Lieutenants, Sergeants, and Officers.

  • Apply to 60 percent of the positions on each watch.

  • Not apply to camps and Community Correctional facilities.

  • Post assignments by each watch shall be at management’s discretion.

• The following Lieutenant positions shall be exempt from watch preference:

  • Personnel Assignment.

  • In-Service Training.

  • Public Information Officer/Administrative Assistant.

  • Investigations.

• Assignment of probationary employees shall be based on their training needs. The Public Information Officer position requires the participation of the ASAccounting Services (see ASB), Office of Public and Employee Communications, in the selection/interview process.

• Watch preference shall be based on the lieutenant’s seniority within the classification at the time of the request. Participation is voluntary and those who elect to participate must submit their request to the Custody Captain by November 30 of each year. Lieutenants shall be placed into the designated available assignments by watch in February of each year. All assignments shall be published on the Custody Personnel Movement Sheet.

• Relief position determination shall be based on the watch in which the majority of work shifts occur. For example, two Second Watch shifts and three Third Watch shifts is considered a Third Watch assignment.

• Lieutenants removed from an administratively assigned position shall be assigned at the discretion of the Warden. However, the assignment may not result in the displacement of a Lieutenant who was assigned to the watch by seniority bid.

• Lieutenant assignment rotations shall occur in two year intervals. Exceptions to the two year rotation may be made by the Warden for operational necessity. Retention of a Lieutenant in a specific assignment beyond four years shall be approved in writing by the respective Regional Administrator (RA).

• Lieutenant positions outside the institutions, such as Camp Commanders, Background Investigations, etc., shall be filled by an impartial and competitive hiring process.