Even with drafting, by which corrections officers are mandated to remain and work a second shift and are available in on days off, 404 posts the division considers important stay unfilled day by day, Clarke mentioned. He mentioned that quantities to 17% of positions.
Clarke mentioned he’s made repeated requests for elevated funding to each Gov. Ralph Northam and Common Meeting leaders. His newest proposal would increase beginning salaries for correctional officers from $35,000 a 12 months to $44,000 a 12 months, with commensurate will increase for these already working for the division.
He put the full price of the plan at $70 million, which might be a greater than 5 % improve to the division’s $1.3 billion annual working finances.
“We all know the place our workers are going, and people locations are paying greater than we’re paying,” Clarke mentioned, noting Virginia State Police now begin troopers at $47,000 a 12 months and most regional jails and sheriff’s places of work begin officers at greater than $40,000 a 12 months.
Members of the committee, which is helmed by Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, and Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, mentioned they’d proceed assembly and set out tough plans to survey Division of Corrections workers straight.
Some members of the committee apprehensive that morale points went past merely low pay — some extent Clarke acknowledged in his hour-long remarks, saying the division is engaged on addressing complaints about poor administration internally.
