From The Advocate:
Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration is asking for a $21.5 million budget increase for Louisiana's prison system to fund a 10% pay raise for entry-level correctional officers and stem a sky-high turnover rate among guards.
Louisiana has struggled in recent years to attract and retain prison guards and its facilities remain chronically understaffed. A measly pay structure paired with grueling 12-hour shifts in non-air-conditioned prisons has made the job a tough sell.
The Department of Corrections currently has 411 unfilled guard positions — a vacancy rate of more than 36%. The positions that are filled face a constant churn, with a year-over-year turnover rate of 73%, according to Thomas Bickham, an undersecretary at the department.
Edwards' chief budget architect, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, called it "the biggest revolving door in state government" during a presentation before lawmakers in February, adding that the hefty budget increase is needed to offer more lucrative employment incentives. Continue reading >>>
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