ORLANDO, Fla. — Staffing shortages at some Florida state prisons have leaders considering whether or not to bring Florida National Guard members in to help.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
A lack of staffing isn’t the only issue Florida’s prisons are facing. A new report says more inmates are also expected to end up in Florida state prisons each year for the next six years.
READ: Memphis police say man randomly shot people, recorded actions on Facebook Live
The projected increase is attributed in part to a backlog in the courts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Rojas, who formerly worked in a state facility and is now at a federal facility in Florida, says he’s not surprised by the numbers.
“The pay, the type of environment…It’s a struggle,” Rojas said.
Region III Town Halls had an energetic start this morning at Lake CI! Staff came together to hear and be heard by Sec. Dixon and the Executive Leadership Team. Our leaders shared goals and motivation, while listening to staff on ways to progress the agency. pic.twitter.com/snxnNL35YV
— Florida Department of Corrections (@FL_Corrections) August 30, 2022
This week, a legislative panel will decide whether or not to bring in Florida National Guard members to help state prisons that are struggling with staffing issues.
Rojas says that’s also not a surprise. He says the same environment and compensation challenges facing Florida state prisons are problems where he works at the Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman. Rojas says right now, they’re short 100 correctional officers.
READ: Parents of Apopka firefighter killed on duty ask the city for more funding to improve safety
“When you don’t have the staff, and the inmates see that, they’re going to take advantage of that,” Rojas said. You’re going to have assaults. You’re going to have predatory inmates attack weaker inmates, or you’re going to have the predatory inmates attack staff.”
When asked what’s being done about the staffing numbers and expected rise in inmates, a representative with the Florida Department of Corrections said in an email that “the Freedom First Budget approved by Governor DeSantis this year means record pay increases will address officer vacancies on a temporary, short-term basis.”
Today, I signed Florida’s Freedom First Budget, which supports our law enforcement, invests in our K-12 education for students and teachers, and preserves Florida’s natural resources – all while maintaining record reserves and enacting the largest tax relief in state history. pic.twitter.com/90ODjhIk3e
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 2, 2022
They also noted that the Florida Sheriff’s Association supports the request by the Department of Corrections to activate the National Guard to assist with “short-term staffing” at some prisons.
Rojas says there needs to be a major, permanent change at both the state and federal level.
READ: Condo association president accused of installing hidden camera in condo bedroom
“They need to staff our prisons properly, and they haven’t done that in quite a bit,” Rojas said. “You get more people retiring and more people leaving, and they’re not backfilling those jobs, so what you’re going to have is a serious security issue.”
The legislative panel is expected to meet Friday.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2022 Cox Media Group
