CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein told state lawmakers Monday things are getting worse not better when it comes to staffing the state’s prisons.
“It’s alarming right now for the Division of Corrections. We are wearing people out,” Commissioner Rubenstein said. “We’re shifting folks from facilities that are not fully staffed but are better staffed than some.”
After hearing from Rubenstein, members of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Regional Jails and Corrections endorsed a previously presented plan for a multi-year pay raise for prison workers.
Rubenstein said Huttonsville State Prison in Randolph County is one of those locations where the workers need a break.
“We’re sending, I believe, a total of 16 individuals over to give people some relief, for some time off, to show we are a team and we are in this together,” Rubenstein said.
Many correctional officers are forced to work more overtime than they want. Rubenstein said the division continues to lose workers. He related some comments to lawmakers he hears frequently.
“I know I can make more (at another place) but if I even saw a glimmer of hope here or the ability of a longevity type of pay plan, we would rather stay within the state system,” Rubenstein repeated.
The proposal would create a better starting salary, longevity pay beginning in the second year of employment and beyond, automatic pay increases from year two to year five and promote a corrections officer to the rank of cpl. after eight years.
Correctional officers representative Elaine Harris told lawmakers Monday the plan would take priority funding but it could save money in the long run.
“I would implore you to look at what is being lost. It’s just a constant turn of people coming in and leaving,” Harris said.