By Corey Schmidt
The Sacramento Bee
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — El Dorado County’s jails are being called into question by the county’s grand jury for staffing shortages.
About 50% of staff positions at the South Lake Tahoe jail are unfilled, while 21% are vacant at the main jail in Placerville, according to grand jury’s report, leading to increased overtime.
“Excessive overtime can lead to fatigue, reduced work rate, absenteeism and negatively impact employee morale,” the grand jury report states.
Female inmates at the South Lake Tahoe jail are transferred to the Placerville jail because there are not enough female correctional officers, according to the report. The 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act requires same-sex inmate supervision.
Staffing shortages at the Placerville jail come as the county expands the facility. Construction on a 22,000-square-foot expansion is expected to be completed this summer, according to the Grand Jury report, requiring 10 additional correctional officers and two new sergeants. The expansion will not increase inmate capacity.
The $25 million expansion will include a separate housing area for women and a new medical wing, according to the grand jury report released late last month.
Staff vacancies are also present at the Juvenile Treatment Center in South Lake Tahoe , where 21% of staff positions are unfilled. Temporary staff members are hired to fill those positions until permanent candidates are hired.
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What causes staffing woes?
Correctional officers told the grand jury they believe wages could be contributing to El Dorado County’s jail labor shortage.
A 2023 compensation study obtained by the county’s human resources department found El Dorado County ranked last in the market for compensation, with a monthly salary of nearly $5,700, according to the report. That figure was below the median monthly salary of nearly $6,200. Sacramento County had the highest monthly wage at about $8,500.
Grand jury members recommended the county complete another compensation study and create a recruitment plan for the South Lake Tahoe facility no later than Dec. 9 .
The Bee reached out to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office but did not receive a response.
The county’s Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff’s Office are required by law to respond to the findings by July 28 .
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