Minimum age requirement for CO lowered to 18 under HB 7057

[Unregistered]

Disband the FDC sponsored academies. They are just training future CO’s for the county jails.

That's true. But FDC can't do that either because that's the only incentive that brings in the bodies here - free academy. Otherwise if they had to pay for their own academies only the rejects from other agencies would apply to FDC, and there would not be enough of them in this tight labor market. Plus anyone worthwhile would figure the FDC out pretty quick and leave for greener pastures at some county jail.

The bottom line has been and remains the low pay compared to county jails. That is the problem nobody seems to want to tackle because the current situation still allows the state prisons to function at minimal cost.

[Unregistered]

That's true. But FDC can't do that either because that's the only incentive that brings in the bodies here - free academy. Otherwise if they had to pay for their own academies only the rejects from other agencies would apply to FDC, and there would not be enough of them in this tight labor market. Plus anyone worthwhile would figure the FDC out pretty quick and leave for greener pastures at some county jail.

The bottom line has been and remains the low pay compared to county jails. That is the problem nobody seems to want to tackle because the current situation still allows the state prisons to function at minimal cost.

Exactly. Raise the pay, bring back 3% cola for retirement and you will attract better people and your current good people will stay. Go cheap, and you'll bring low quality performers and criminal behavior.

[Unregistered]

Exactly. Raise the pay, bring back 3% cola for retirement and you will attract better people and your current good people will stay. Go cheap, and you'll bring low quality performers and criminal behavior.

There are countless articles online about CO's getting arrested and fired for bringing in contrabrand to the prisons. Starting pay should be around $45,000. That would at least cut the turnover rate

[Unregistered]

There are countless articles online about CO's getting arrested and fired for bringing in contrabrand to the prisons. Starting pay should be around $45,000. That would at least cut the turnover rate

and then you could also raise the hiring standards. A lot of these new arrests are on CO's who are trainees or have less than 2 years on the job.

[Unregistered]

and then you could also raise the hiring standards. A lot of these new arrests are on CO's who are trainees or have less than 2 years on the job.

Maybe make having an associates degree a requirement to justify the higher pay would be a good start.

[Unregistered]

Maybe make having an associates degree a requirement to justify the higher pay would be a good start.

Or an honorable discharge from the military

[Unregistered]

Exactly. Raise the pay, bring back 3% cola for retirement and you will attract better people and your current good people will stay. Go cheap, and you'll bring low quality performers and criminal behavior.

In all the countries who do not pay their correctional officers competitive wages, the prison staff complements their meager pay with contraband smuggled in and sold to the inmates. The management and politicians know this but look the other way because they know the only way to stop the contraband smuggling is to pay the prison staff more money. This trend is showing up in the US as well, not to the degree it is happening in other countries but it is significant and dangerous. Let's see what the politicians plan to do about it, raise the pay or look the other way and occasionally nail somebody who was sloppy and indiscreet.

[Unregistered]

This bill is going to pass soon and this will increase the turnover rate ten-fold once those 18-year olds realize they don't want to risk their lives for minimum wage. Expect a mass exodus of CO's jumping ship.

[Unregistered]

In all the countries who do not pay their correctional officers competitive wages, the prison staff complements their meager pay with contraband smuggled in and sold to the inmates. The management and politicians know this but look the other way because they know the only way to stop the contraband smuggling is to pay the prison staff more money. This trend is showing up in the US as well, not to the degree it is happening in other countries but it is significant and dangerous. Let's see what the politicians plan to do about it, raise the pay or look the other way and occasionally nail somebody who was sloppy and indiscreet.

Sadly, what you are saying is true. They just look the other way while the prison's continue to turn into 3rd world institutions run by the inmates and corrupt officers. Pathetic.