By Michael Williams, Backgate Website
With turnover at 1 in 5,more Officers left the agency on their own in 2011 then any other year records revealed. This had created dangerous safety issues on most prison units statewide say many employees. Staffing plans, which dictate how many Officers are needed to man the many duty posts within a prison, have been cut to the bone. But that doesn't mean that activities don't get done, it means one Officer may now be used to do the job of three. With TDCJ shuffling offenders from the Connally unit in Kenedy, and even the Dalhart unit due to staffing issues, the future still isn't looking to bright for the agency.
With some units hovering at 60-70 percent of required staffing levels, that means forced overtime for employees. Some being required to work 2 of their 3 regular days off just to keep facilities running. The state paid about $7.5 million for 285,000 overtime hours in fiscal year 2011 as shown by TDCJ's own records. Correctional officers statewide make an average annual salary of about $34,880, some $8,500 below the national average, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Not nearly enough to deal with the desparaging treatment from administrators, and some the most violent inmates in the United States.
With employees leaving at the current rate, the agency will be in real crisis within the next year if things don't change. The agency had got to lose the chip they carry on their shoulder, realize it's 2012 and not 1975 and do what they can to keep the good ones. With legislators again asking state agencies to butcher 10% more from their upcoming budgets, not much more fat can be cut at the TDCJ unless it's from the top down.
Change will come when the agency is forced to change. It takes a crisis. Sounds like you're almost there.
ReplyDeleteOnce TDCJ starts slimming down, which units do you think will be closed and which will remain in use??
Thank God Texas citizens can now legally carry handguns to protect their lives. Things are about to become interesting when thousands of thugs fresh from prison hit the streets.
Worry about the crooked high ranking individuals that have yet to be caught and put in prison..
DeleteThe new (& not so new)Hug-A-Thug policies in place in our units statewide, and the low pay, are the reason a lot of bosses are leaving the agency. When more policies are implemented to make the thieves lives better then the bosses, that creates a hostile working environment for the people that work for TDCJ. And when a TDCJ employee only makes between $15 to $18 an hr and they can make $20 to $30 at the oil fields, it's no wonder they aren't staying with TDCJ.
ReplyDeleteTDCJ had taken more officers away from the front lines in years past and yet not one position in Huntsville was been given up due to cut backs. Now some units have one senior warden, two assistant wardens, two majors, and four captains yet those whom they supervise are cut down due to budget cuts. Now one AW = up to $55.000 a year, one major and one capt = $88.000 a year. You do the math and tell me where the cuts need to be made. I see no reason why shifts need to have so many "managers" to run it when there's no need for that.
ReplyDeleteThat is everywhere in TDC. They cut the worker bees that are working unreasonable amounts of work and the higher paying jobs are kept. Just ask all the clerks.
DeleteI work for TDCJ and its kinda stuppid that a Convicted Killer, Child Molester, Or Other Trash can call me a "Bitch" and get away with it. But if "I" Call them a "Bitch" I Can Get Fired,,,,,
ReplyDeleteNow im waiting for the day that a Riot kicks off so we can gas them untill they choke,,,, AFTER thet beat each other's brains out,,,,,,,,,
Then Ill Ask,,,,,,,, "Who's The Bitch Now"
U r a bitch n one day one of the inmates r gonna kick ur fukin ads so bad u won't make it hone
DeleteSeashores says the three posts above me says it all. The inmate population have more rights and freedom than ever.
ReplyDeleteOur elected officials have created this monster (lack of quality/quantity staff) along with the hundreds of thousands of inmate families voting for these inmate loving elected officials. Blame trash such as terri hodge. All she wants is votes to keep her high paying job. The only way to get votes is to keep pushing for inmate rights for the inmates families.
The good bosses that work/worked in the system know that they have no authority over the inmates. They know they can not make a difference and/or effectively do their job as long as the inmates are protect by these rights/laws. A good boss hates the fact that the criminal has more rights inside that the he/she or the victims have. A sorry boss is to sorry and dumb to know the difference.
I work at the Smith Unit and we are short. They brought in a new Senior Warden Swift, from Ft. Stockton, and he is running officers off left and right. Many of us are looking elsewhere. Smith unit is going to have no one if this new warden doesn't back off!
ReplyDeleteYou know, it happens with every admin change. People just do not adapt well to change. You just have to bite your lip, put your head down, and ride it out for a while. Give it some time, see if you can do what needs to be done to adapt. Just don't over react or act too quickly. I have worked for some assholes, I know how it is, but the world just keeps on turning. I guess it all boils down to how much do you like or need your job. Everyone has a different boiling point. Just remember, if you let him steal your cool, you let him win. After all, Lamesa is probably your home or close to home, and he is the one that has to uproot his family, so he is not happy either. You know some will do anything to promote, and some are worthy of promotion. Too bad they don't lets us compile scores on supervisor's that would be reflected upon come promotion time. Things night be different. Hang in there, I miss seeing everyone. Carry on in the proud tradition of Preston E Smith!
DeleteStan the Bug Man
I'm trying to find out what type of untit Smith is before I apply. I really don't want to work at a rock and roll unit. On average how many fights do they have a day there? I'm trying to figure out is it worth applying there? I don't want to work with the youngsters that don't care.
ReplyDeleteHe is the same one that was doing it out their at Ft Stockton, Instead of dealing with him they send him to another unit to screw up. just saying.
ReplyDelete