CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein told state lawmakers Monday the turnover of correctional officers in state prisons, regional jails and juvenile facilities continues at an alarming rate. Rubenstein asked the lawmakers to consider a four-part financial package in hopes enhancing recruitment and retention.
Rubenstein said the vacancy rates in the three systems during last budget year included 8.5 percent for the Regional Jail Authority, 11.3 percent in the Division of Corrections and 23.5 percent in the Division of Juvenile Services.
“And nearly 68 percent of those vacancies are correctional officer positions,” he said.
Exit interviews showed most left because of the pay. Rubenstein said starting salaries are in the low $20,000 range.
The plan presented Monday calls for a $2,000 across-the-board pay raise, increasing the starting salaries of correctional officers by $2,000, implementing a longevity pay program and reimbursing the workers for educational costs. Rubenstein said the plan would cost approximately $70 million over three years.
The commissioner said 48 percent of correctional officers hired in the state prison system quit during their first year on the job. He said it becomes costly to train the officers, provide them with uniforms and other things only to have them leave in a very short period of time.
There’s a lot of forced overtime, particularly in the state prisons and juvenile facilities. Rubenstein said some extra work is good but there’s a tipping point.
“That leads into the stress, the errors, the poor judgment, the complacency and medical issues,” he said. “I think everybody likes a little bit of overtime at times but not when it becomes a real anchor around you and starts dragging you down.”
Rubenstein said the four-point plan was just finalized late last week and has not been presented to the governor or his budget office. He told lawmakers he hopes there’s something they can do to improve the current situation.
“I think you know the potential ramifications and impact that it holds if we can’t curve this and stabilize our workforce and recruitment efforts more,” he said.
The Regional Jail Authority has cut its overtime costs by millions during the past year by hiring more correctional officers but the agency is still dealing with the vacancy issue.
State lawmakers are in Charleston through Wednesday for monthly interim committee meetings.