Staffing Shortages Limit Basic Prison Function

 The Covid-19 pandemic, together with other factors, has made America's job market tough. Companies are having difficulty finding employees who will stay in the job, so wages and benefits are rising, and those costs are being passed onto consumers. Government agencies and departments are also feeling the pinch of staffing issues, including the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). 

In addition to the "normal" difficulties in hiring, the Department also contends with a new generation of potential employees who will not part with their electronic devices for an entire day of work. New hires also face immediate mandating of (a LOT of) overtime work, starting pay equal to what they can now make at Walmart or McDonalds, and a work culture rife with corruption, apathy, and constant negativity. I feel sorry for the public relations person who must spin such conditions to make the job sound appealing. 

Because the MDOC continues to struggle with finding and keeping new employees, every prison, and even state-wide administrative jobs, are severely understaffed. Administrative staff, both on a prison level and those who work in the Department headquarters, are working overtime, just to cover basic safety functions in prison. Morale among staff suffers, and prisoners become increasingly frustrated when basic prison functions don't operate due to staffing shortages. 

For months now, the first shift at Handlon Correction Facility has been too understaffed to open yard for prisoners. "Big yard," as it is commonly referred to, is where prisoners can run, lift weights, play basketball, and get other exercise in. The small yards in front of the housing units are often too cramped for prisoners to get much exercise. Big yard continues to only be opened on second shift, meaning prisoners with afternoon and evening classes and other obligations cannot get their recreation time in. The gym has also been closed for months due to "short staffing issues." 

Recently, several new ride-ins (prisoners transferred from other prisons) waited several days to receive their personal property. This means they only had the clothes on their backs to sleep in and wear all day, and no access to hygiene items necessary for taking a shower or even brushing their teeth, for three days. The reason they were given for the delay is the prison is too "short staffed" to hand out property. One of the prisoners transferred from a prison literally across the street from Handlon. 

Michigan's Governor and the State Legislature have options, literally in their hands, to reduce the state's prison population immediately, allowing several prisons to close. But they continue to punt this problem down the road. Reducing the state's prison population will not only save the state millions of dollars per year, but it would help to solve the ongoing staffing shortage. With fewer people in prison, fewer corrections officers and other staff are needed. 

Good time legislation, or some other population reducing mechanism, can ensure that only those prisoners who demonstrate rehabilitation through measurable metrics are released. This should ease the fears of those who worry that releasing prisoners early will lead to an increase in crime rates. When prisoners have to earn reductions in the sentences, it is more likely they will continue demonstrating good behavior after leaving prison. 

The short staffing problem is not going to go away soon because the Department cannot hire enough staff to even replace those quitting and retiring. In fact, the problem appears to only be getting worse. It's time for the legislature to take decisive action to solve this problem. For the safety of Michigan's residents, the state can no longer afford to push this security and safety problem down the road. 

Please contact your state legislators (Representatives and Senators) and urge them to take immediate action on reducing Michigan's prison population. Urge them to vote yes on bringing back Good Time to Michigan.