“Our competition for hiring is Walmart, not other law enforcement agencies.”
That is the grim assessment of Florida’s prison situation as the state struggles to keep officers at its prisons.
In 2014, staffing shortages at Florida’s prisons cost the state $18.2 million. Chronic staffing issues are also leading to high turnover as officers routinely leave the Department of Corrections for higher paying jobs in county jails.
According to state records, the starting pay for corrections officers is just $30,808, with the average officer making only $31,951. By comparison, state records show starting salaries for officers in Florida’s county jails is on average 33 percent above what the state pays.
“We’re seeing a lot of our experienced officers leaving,” Correction Officer Union Representative Les Cantrell said. “Putting in additional time away from their families and additional stress.”
9 Investigates met with Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones in Tallahassee to discuss these issues and the cost to taxpayers.
“The Department of Corrections has a systemic problem,” Jones said.
Jones is pushing for more money to hire additional correctional officers, but not for a pay raise.
Jones said a study conducted by the department showed low staffing levels was the No. 1 issue facing corrections and that she has spoken to Gov. Rick Scott about adding more positions.
Jones admitted the problems are widespread and solutions will be costly.
“In my opinion we have run out of options,” Jones said.
The officers’ union is skeptical that adding more officers without adding more pay will correct the problem, or stem the tide of turnover and county jails poaching officers.
According to records, officers at nine out of the state’s 10 largest facilities have an average of less than three years’ experience, while officers at facilities in Everglades and Okeechobee having an average of less than one year of experience.
While the number of corrections officers on the job has fallen since 2009, the state’s average daily prison population has held steady at just above 100,000 inmates.
Amid the lingering issues, the DOC is undertaking a new examination of its operation.
In an email to 9 Investigates, DOC spokesman McKinley Lewis said, “The Department is currently partnering with the Association of State Correctional Administrators. ASCA’s audit is the most comprehensive study conducted to date on the agency’s staffing and will be finalized in May or June of this year.”
In 2014, staffing shortages at Florida’s prisons cost the state $18.2 million. Chronic staffing issues are also leading to high turnover as officers routinely leave the Department of Corrections for higher paying jobs in county jails.
According to state records, the starting pay for corrections officers is just $30,808, with the average officer making only $31,951. By comparison, state records show starting salaries for officers in Florida’s county jails is on average 33 percent above what the state pays.
“We’re seeing a lot of our experienced officers leaving,” Correction Officer Union Representative Les Cantrell said. “Putting in additional time away from their families and additional stress.”
9 Investigates met with Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones in Tallahassee to discuss these issues and the cost to taxpayers.
“The Department of Corrections has a systemic problem,” Jones said.
Jones is pushing for more money to hire additional correctional officers, but not for a pay raise.
Jones said a study conducted by the department showed low staffing levels was the No. 1 issue facing corrections and that she has spoken to Gov. Rick Scott about adding more positions.
Jones admitted the problems are widespread and solutions will be costly.
“In my opinion we have run out of options,” Jones said.
The officers’ union is skeptical that adding more officers without adding more pay will correct the problem, or stem the tide of turnover and county jails poaching officers.
According to records, officers at nine out of the state’s 10 largest facilities have an average of less than three years’ experience, while officers at facilities in Everglades and Okeechobee having an average of less than one year of experience.
While the number of corrections officers on the job has fallen since 2009, the state’s average daily prison population has held steady at just above 100,000 inmates.
Amid the lingering issues, the DOC is undertaking a new examination of its operation.
In an email to 9 Investigates, DOC spokesman McKinley Lewis said, “The Department is currently partnering with the Association of State Correctional Administrators. ASCA’s audit is the most comprehensive study conducted to date on the agency’s staffing and will be finalized in May or June of this year.”
Cox Media Group
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