MAJOR SHORTAGE OF CORRECTION OFFICERS IN MOUNTAIN STATE

(11/20/2014)
State Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein says the prison worker vacancy problem has spread to the state's second largest prison.

There are 68 vacancies at Huttonsville State Prison in Randolph County.

At Mount Olive in Fayette County, there are 65 vacancies, 55 of them correctional officers. Rubenstein said many workers are being ordered overtime.

There is a serious shortage of applicants to fill correction officers positions in the state's regional jails. "Everybody likes a little bit of overtime, but then it gets to be an albatross and sadly that's what we're dealing with at those two facilities right now," Rubenstein said. Representatives of the Division of Corrections frequently attend job fairs looking for workers. The division also advertises its openings.

Rubenstein said some workers leave because there's no indication things will get better.

"They're just not really sure when they'll see any type of salary increase," Rubenstein said.