By Corrections1 Staff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida prisons and jails could soon be able to hire 18-year-old corrections officers under a bill that passed the House last Thursday.
The minimum age to be an officer in Florida is 19, but the proposal would lower it to 18, WTXL reports.
Florida DOC officials say the agency has been struggling to retain and recruit corrections staff across the state for years. They believe the bill would help increase the pool of candidates.
“Properly staffed correctional institutions help strengthen public safety across the state, and this legislation directly assists the department by increasing the number of eligible candidates for hire,” said Michelle Glady, a spokeswoman for the department.