New report shows prison staffing vacancies at record levels Union representing corrections officers calls staffing crisis a 'dangerous situation' Share Updated: 7:46 PM CDT Jun 29, 2021 Union representing corrections officers calls staffing crisis a 'dangerous situation' Share Updated: 7:46 PM CDT Jun 29, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript ANDR:EW $20 AHON UR STARTING AND A $10,000 HIRING BONUS APPARENTLY ISN’T ENOUGH TO ATTRACT OR RETAIN OUENGH STAFF TO STAVE OFF A RECORD NUMBFER O VACANCIES AT OUR STATE’S HIGHEST SECURITY PRISONS. THE DIAGNOSTIC AND EVALUATION CENTER AND LINCOLN CORRECTIOLNA FACILITY NOW UNDER A STAFFING EMERNCGE PROTECTIVE CUSTODY OFFICERS,OW N ON 12-HOUR SHIFTS. THE UNION CALLS IT A CRISIS DAN SAYS THEY ARE NOT SURID.RP >>E' ’VE BEEN SAYING, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS COMPENSATION. WE HAVE TO GET ABOVE COUNTIES. THIS CRISIS IS BOILING OVER. IT’S GETTING VERY DANGEROUS. ANDREW:CC AORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF CORRECTIONS, IN MARCH, THERE WERE 402 VACANCI.ES 219 WERE IN PROTECTIVE SERVICE STAFF. THE TURNOVER RATE HAS LEVELED, BUT REMAINS A 35% IN SOME FACILITIES, AND THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME CONTINUES ON A SLIGHT UPWARD TREND. >> IT IS VERY CONCERNING. ANDREW: THE CHAIRMAN OFHE T LEGISTURE’S JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AGREES IT IS A PAY ISSUE. HE POINTS TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S REPORT, WHICH SHOWS DOUGS, SLAARPY AND LANCASTER COUNTIES PAY MORE. IN OMAHA, IT’S NEARLY $2.5 MORE AN HOUR. >> OTHERWISE, WE’RE JUST TRAINING CORRECTIONS OFFICERS TO GO TAKE A JOB AT LANCASTER, DOUGLAS, OR SARPY COUNTY. ANDR:EW AND THE PROBLEM COULD GET WORSE, AS 384 MORE BEDS MECO ONLINE NEXT YEAR, AND POTENTIALLY A NEW 1500 BED PRISON IS BEING CONSIDERED. >>ND A WE CAN’T STAFF WHAT WE GOT. ANDREW: CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR SCOTT FRAKES SAYS THEY ARE CAUGHT IN THE SAME STAFFING SHORTAGES MANY BUSINESSES ARE FACING. AND HIGHER WESAG ARE ALWAYS A CONSIDERATION. >> THE QUESTION IS, HOW ARWEE MEASURED, AGAINST WHAT WILL IT TAKE? SO THE CONVERSATIONS CONTIE.NU ANDREW: HE SAYS THEY ARE STEPPING UP RECRUITMENT AND ADVERTISING AND ARE OPTIMISTIC THEY CAN MAINTAIN PROGRAMS AND RECREATIONAL TE IMFOR INMATES USING THE NEW SCHEDULE. T>>HE LAST THING I NEED IS RFO PEOPLE WITH NOTHING TO DO FOR 12 HOURS. ANDREW: THE UNION SAYS SETOMHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. >> IT’S URGE.NT WE HAVE THE WORSE NUMBERS WE HAVE EVER