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Prison Chief Getting High Marks From Lawmakers, Salary Problems Remain

September 17th, 2015 by Mike Vasilinda

New uniforms, new technology, and a new no nonsense attitude by managers at the Department of Corrections is paying dividends in fewer use of force reports, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the prison agency still faces huge problems hiring and retaining staff.

Drugs, cell phones, weapons and even cigarettes are regularly smuggled into the state prison system…by staff…visitors…and lately…technology.

Drugs, cell phones, weapons and even cigarettes are regularly smuggled into the state prisons..by staff…visitors…and lately…technology says Corrections Secretary Julie Jones. “I think we had our first drone incident, where somebody tried to drop contraband over the fence with a drone.”

Corrections Secretary Julie Jones told the House Judiciary Committee that low staffing makes it hard to combat the smuggling of contraband.

“Will a salary increase help, yes.”

But Jones is’t  asking for pay raises despite a report by the union representing prison workers found 7600 left their jobs over a three year period. Jones acknowledges pay is a big reason for the departures.

“The ones that do do leave for a better job site salary.”

Kim Schultz is a 19 year veteran probation officer. She hasn’t left because she likes her job…but

“Most us have second jobs. We work for TSA. We work for security companies. We work in department stores” says Schultz.

In the past, the agency used money destined for salaries to fix buildings. That resulted in huge overtime bills.

All of that has stopped says Jones.

“And I can pour money into salaries and have the buildings crumble, and I have a resultant problem.”

Jones also acknowledged that about a third of the thirty thousand sent to prison each year are there for low level drug offenses, including marijuana.

Corrections officers have not had only one pay raise in the last 8 years while the highway patrol and other officers have gotten pay bumps to keep them from leaving for higher paying agencies.

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