Post by Logan on Feb 1, 2016 1:31:28 GMT -6
LINCOLN, Neb. | Strong competition for workers is making it difficult to hire and retain enough guards to adequately staff the state's biggest prisons, Nebraska officials say.
Low staffing levels and excessive overtime were factors in last spring's riot at the Tecumseh prison, and filling positions there and at the state prison in Lincoln continues to be a challenge.
Dawn Renee Smith with the state Department of Correctional Services told the Lincoln Journal Star the state's low unemployment and strong economy are part of the problem.
Last year, the turnover rate among protective services staff increased two percentage points to nearly 31 percent. But overtime hours are decreasing across the department, Smith said.
Read more: siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/nebraska-prisons-continue-to-struggle-to-retain-guards/article_1ea607c2-65a4-5b6e-9fca-fcc32e92e4c9.html
Low staffing levels and excessive overtime were factors in last spring's riot at the Tecumseh prison, and filling positions there and at the state prison in Lincoln continues to be a challenge.
Dawn Renee Smith with the state Department of Correctional Services told the Lincoln Journal Star the state's low unemployment and strong economy are part of the problem.
Last year, the turnover rate among protective services staff increased two percentage points to nearly 31 percent. But overtime hours are decreasing across the department, Smith said.
Read more: siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/nebraska-prisons-continue-to-struggle-to-retain-guards/article_1ea607c2-65a4-5b6e-9fca-fcc32e92e4c9.html