State Rep. Lightner "These claims must be investigated.”

Rep. Sarah Lightner | https://dtj5wlj7ond0z.cloudfront.net/uploads/2019/01/LIGHTNER-SQUARE_0119-e1556566255148.jpg

By South Michigan News Report

Sep 15, 2023

State Representative Sarah Lightner of Michigan has called for a comprehensive investigation into staffing shortages and potential labor regulation violations within the state's Department of Corrections. This inquiry aims to address concerns such as low staffing levels, violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and breaches of mandatory overtime limits. The main goal is to ensure the well-being of both employees and inmates within Michigan's state prisons.

Michigan's prisons are currently grappling with significant staffing shortages, which are causing concerns for correctional officers and the overall operation of these facilities. For example, the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Jackson is facing a severe staffing crisis, with a vacancy rate of approximately 25%. This shortage has led to extensive mandatory overtime for existing officers and has put a severe strain on the workforce. Moreover, all four prison facilities in Jackson are in need of additional staff, with around 920 prison officer vacancies across the state.

The Michigan Department of Corrections is aware of these staffing challenges and has implemented various measures, including recruitment efforts, retention bonuses, and shift schedule changes. However, the problem persists, prompting lawmakers to seek a solution to this pressing staffing crisis. Representative Lightner's request for an investigation by the Michigan Auditor General aims to shed light on the extent of the problem and find effective solutions to address it.

One example of the severe staffing crisis is at the Chippewa Correctional Facility, where there is a shortage of 69 officers, resulting in a 24% vacancy rate. This shortage has led to excessive overtime, impacting the well-being and safety of officers. In a two-week period, there were 617 instances of overtime recorded, with 243 of them being mandatory double shifts. The crisis at this facility has persisted for years, with the Michigan Department of Corrections struggling to retain officers.

Urgent legislative action is needed to address this ongoing problem and ensure the recruitment and retention of corrections officers in Michigan's prisons. Representative Lightner's call for an investigation is an important step towards identifying the root causes of the staffing crisis and finding effective solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of both staff and inmates within the state's correctional facilities.

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Michigan's prisons are grappling with significant staffing shortages, causing concerns for both correctional officers and the overall operation of these facilities. The G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Jackson, for example, is currently experiencing a "severe staffing crisis," with a vacancy rate of approximately 25%, leading to extensive mandatory overtime for existing officers and severe strain on the workforce. This shortage is not limited to one facility, as all four prison facilities in Jackson are in need of additional staff, with approximately 920 prison officer vacancies across the state. The Michigan Department of Corrections acknowledges these staffing challenges and has implemented various measures, including recruitment efforts, retention bonuses, and shift schedule changes, to address the situation. However, the problem persists, prompting calls for lawmakers to find a solution to this pressing staffing crisis.

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This shortage is not limited to one facility, as all four prison facilities in Jackson are in need of additional staff, with approximately 920 prison officer vacancies across the state. The Michigan Department of Corrections acknowledges these staffing challenges and has implemented various measures, including recruitment efforts, retention bonuses, and shift schedule changes, to address the situation. However, the problem persists, prompting calls for lawmakers to find a solution to this pressing staffing crisis.

read more here

"This union was founded to address the safety of corrections staff and the security of Michigan prisons, and we continue to push for more safe and secure facilities."

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The Chippewa Correctional Facility in Michigan faces a severe staffing crisis with a shortage of 69 officers, resulting in a 24% vacancy rate. This has led to excessive overtime, impacting officers' well-being and safety. Over a two-week period, 617 instances of overtime were recorded, with 243 being mandatory double shifts. The crisis has persisted for years, with the Michigan Department of Corrections struggling to retain officers. Urgent legislative action is needed to address this ongoing problem and ensure the recruitment and retention of corrections officers in Michigan.

read more here