Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Corrections officers from other state prisons are reporting manpower shortages similar to what has occurred at Nashville’s Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility since Tennessee implemented a new work schedule.
The Tennessean reports that officers called the newspaper this week to say that similar problems, including officers having to work double shifts, have been occurring at facilities in Nashville, Henning and Wartburg.
The Tennessee Department of Correction converted its prison security force from a traditional 40-hour workweek to a 28-day cycle to save $1.4 million in annual overtime costs.
According to documents obtained by the newspaper, there has been high turnover since the change took effect in April. For example, the number of Morgan County Correctional Complex officers reporting for duty fell from 70 in March to 56 in June.