Dear BBB,
I enjoy receiving your newsletters, and if the subject questions are something I can respond to…than, I will. With that being said, I’d like to respond to the question: “What do you think the cause of understaffing of prisons nationwide?”
Well, I seriously believe that its because of safety concerns. Staff don’t feel safe when there’s no pod cameras, body cams, and the shortage in staff positions. It makes them feel unsafe! Therefore, they probably decided to choose a different type of job positioning…where they do not have to deal with such violence, and unsafe conditions.
I believe the Department of Corrections (“DOC”) will have to show that they have the prisons under control, and the safety concerns are fixed before any of the staff positions are actually filled back up. With that being said, the DOC has to come up with a plan.
First of all, there has to be more pod cameras in each pod, and every correctional officer needs to wear a body cam…this is to give staff the feeling that they are safe. If they don’t feel safe…they probably will not work in such an environment. So, you can understand why there’s a staffing crisis. Who would want to work in an unsafe environment? Nobody!
Secondly, there has to be more staff presence in each housing area. Meaning more security checks. Staff has to pull together in order to make this happen. Its the only way to keep everyone safe.
Thirdly, DOC also has to put adequate ads out about job openings, and offer a bonus to all new staff members who are still working after one year. This will ensure the chance of fill up all the job openings.
Fourthly, if the DOC brought back smoking in prisons…they wouldn’t have to worry about the money issue they’re currently having because every state was making millions of dollars a year on the taxes from tobacco products sold in prisons nationwide. This money could be used to hire new staff…to fill all the open positions, and to put cameras in the pods of the facilities that don’t have them. This would be a win, win for each state. If there’s an issue with non-smokers…than, the DOC can designate one of its prisons to be used as a non-smoking prison.
By achieving these four goals, the DOC will see a big change in the staffing crisis effecting prisons nationwide. The DOC needs to find solutions to these problems and fixing them. Saving money is not an option…lives are more important. Prisons need to be fully staffed at all times…this is the only way to keep staff and inmates safe. Staff would rather work in a peaceful work environment, not a violent one.
C. Floyd, #1036136
Red Onion State Prison
Brilliance Behind Bars 