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Scott Pitches Pay Raises For Corrections, Probation Workers
January 30, 2017
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is proposing to spend $45 million to boost salaries of corrections and probation workers, with the aim of cutting down on overtime expenses and increasing safety in the state’s troubled prison system.
The bulk of Scott’s proposal — $38 million — would increase base salaries for correctional workers. The governor’s plan does not include across-the-board pay hikes but would offer an 8.5 percent increase for entry-level prison guards by raising starting pay from $30,926 to $33,500 a year, according to Scott spokesman McKinley Lewis.
Scott’s plan also would hike the base pay for correctional sergeants, lieutenants and captains by 10 percent, Lewis said, and would result in salary increases for a majority of the state’s 24,000 corrections and probations workers.
The governor’s proposal, which will be part of a full budget plan released this week, also includes $5 million to allow prisons with sustained vacancy rates of more than 10 percent to offer one-time, $1,000 hiring bonuses to corrections officers, Lewis said.
Also, Scott’s plan includes $2.5 million to hike pay for correctional officers with special certifications who work in mental-health units.
“The governor believes in making investments in the Department of Corrections that allow that agency to better recruit officers and ensure that they have an experienced workforce,” Lewis said. “These investments will allow them to address vacancies and hiring challenges they have had and also work to improve officer safety at the institutions and decrease the cost of overtime.”
Since taking over as head of the Department of Corrections two years ago, Secretary Julie Jones has pushed lawmakers to boost funding for additional staff. Jones has blamed a rash of prison riots and spikes of violence in large part on staff turnover and manpower shortages.
The “unacceptably high vacancy rates … are negatively impacting the Department’s ability to fulfill its mission,” the agency wrote in a legislative budget request submitted in October.
The corrections agency’s turnover rate increased by 100 percent last year while overtime costs skyrocketed by more than 200 percent, according to the request.
“This high turnover rate has a dramatic effect on the department’s ability to manage an already difficult population,” agency officials wrote, blaming the low salary levels for the turnover and recruitment problems.
Matt Puckett, executive director of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, called Scott’s proposal a good starting point as lawmakers prepare to craft a state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
“I think that’s a really good starting offer. Of course we want to see across-the-board (raises). It’s been a while, and everybody there needs a raise. But it’s really encouraging that the governor is putting forth a plan like this. He’s getting in the direction of fixing the salaries,” Puckett told The News Service of Florida.
Scott is expected to release his full budget proposal for the 2017-2018 fiscal year Tuesday at an Associated Press annual pre-legislative session gathering of reporters and editors.
Puckett said his union will soon make known its budget wish-list, which will include across-the-board raises and will address “longevity issues.”
Corrections workers have had one raise in the past nine years, and Scott’s proposal would double the last pay hike for many prison staff.
“There’s a lot of catching up to do. But when you’re going to negotiate and everybody’s talking about pay raises and money, that’s a good sign,” Puckett said.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “Scott Pitches Pay Raises For Corrections, Probation Workers”
After not having a pay in about a decade, every one of these COs deserve a GOOD pay raise. Especially the ones that have been there for 10 yrs, 15 yrs, 20 yrs and more! They work so hard because of shortages. Hours that they really shouldn’t. So they deserve it!
REGARDING:
“cursing at them before they will do what you tell them to do,”
People will respond favorably to cursing and being cursed?
David for better people
Chis, you have no clue how it is out there now. Inmate are off the chain, they are young and have no respect for anyone not even themselves, I know i work there, now it’s not all that’s that way but the majority of them are. You have to get down right ulgy with them cursing at them before they will do what you tell them to do, you can’t talk to them like a silvilized person. Every officer out there deserves way more than what they make.
@Dan– Maybe it is a lot different nowdays. It still doesn’t change the fact that being a gaurd is one of the easiest jobs to attain for the pay received in comparison to the work one must put in to get it. And not that hard of a job to do other than all the politics involved.
Also, i’m not bitter about raises. I do believe it’s wrong and stupid to give newbees raises before seasoned officers. It is complete betrayal to those who have put in their time. You forget, every male in my family has either been a cop or military veteran. So it’s not like i’m against anyone. I just try to look realistically at things. For example, i’d rather see problem inmates get beat down than all the stupid petty rules and attitudes. Any inmate blatently disrespectful to a gaurd (especially a female) deserves to get his mouth bloody. If DOC would go back to the days when an inmate got randomly singled out and beat down just to let the others know their place, maybe the problems you say exist wouldn’t be happening.
Welcome to Rick Scotts world, take reason and logic ,throw it out the window.
So did I read this right your giving new hires a pay raise but people that’s been with the state for years is not getting anything guess the state will be shorter now than ever because that is just a slap in the face. They say they care about their employees doesn’t look like it to me. It has been almost 10 years sense anyone has had a pay raise guess more people will be quitting know.
@chris….you have already wore the uniform…right? The blue kind that the inmates wear. Your assessment is not even worth reading.
Chris in Molino, my spouse does the job & the reason officers get jumped on so you say for your reasoning is because they’re doing their jobs, & if you are an ex inmate , well sir, maybe that might explain the disrespect you have toward some state workers, because maybe they might have taught you a lil respect while you were in the joint, but you sir remind me of the dangers to look out for on the streets toward the officers or their families, if you can why don’t you put that uniform on yourself, you would know what they go through afterward. Some teachers deserve that extra money, some of my kids teachers are excellent, past & present, not all. So not all deserve 90k, some officers deserve that, especially those that you say they don’t, not all officers pick on inmates, you can’t pick & choose. Last but not least, if you done your time that’s fine, so you part of society? Which part? Like I said if you can put that uniform on & make a difference, it’s highly unlikely that you can’t anyway. Yes people make mistakes, but if you don’t want to be judged then stop judging the officers. If you were wronged I’m sorry but not all are bad. You kinda sound like you might be wishy washy & not to be trusted to be around any officer.
Also Chris you telling me that a female having to medically retire from getting beat so bad by an inmate deserves it or the rise in inmates targeting violence toward women or weak male officers that are not prepared to deal with very violent offenders deserves it. Put on the uniform garuntee it will change most of your opinions of prison. Very small minority abuse their position but alot of the inmates are no longer scares to physically or verbally abuse officers.
So all current officers that make the 30k get nothing but new off the street get 33 yep that will help retain current officers
@chris in molino
I’ve told you this before prison is a lot different now than it was when you were locked up. Don’t be bitter for the officers getting a pay raise you should support them now that you are part of society
Fot a reason Chris? You are an idiot. Try and hide it better.
@Chris- What are you talking about? All COs must really seem like knuckle dragging idiots to you? However you will find that there are many who do what they do for various reasons that do not include a lack of better oppurtunities. And if you are not a CO, you can take your assessment on the dangers and shove it you know where. Some inmates are just violent. I have seen good, strong officers get hurt because they refused to bring in contraband. So just stop. You sound stupid.
@Shay–No, your job is just as dangerous. Im sure there are times you get to a shooting before police not sure if the shooter is gone yet. Correction Officers aren’t just getting stabbed all the time. Besides, the ones that do get targeted for a reason. Usually for unnecessary use of force or unnecessary ugly demeanor (of course a majority of inmates are animals).
However, you went to school much longer to attain your salary. In comparison to length of school to reach their respective positions and the work they do once there, if COs start at $ 30k then teachers ought to start at $ 90k.
Theres a pay off for everything we chose in life. Being a CO is no different. If you fit in with other COs then your job is pretty sweet. We’re talking about people who would otherwise hold a job as construction laborer, waitress, etc. Others are retired military or some other pensioned position. Those are the ones who really have it good. Like i said, it’s a choice.
Everyone who works for the State deserves a raise and will not get one. It is very hard, financially, to work for the State…it is almost a calling. Our Corrections men and women need to be fairly paid….not just the new ones or the bosses.
Raising the starting wage to $33,500? I make more as a paramedic (not complaining. Just stating the facts)and work a much less dangerous job than c/o’s do. Hardly seems fair.
Nine yrs w/o a raise and making such a low salary to begin with? No wonder there are so many vacancies. Unacceptable!!