MD prison staffing shortage could worsen, union warns

The Maryland Department of Public Safety andCorrectional Services and the union that represents its correctional officers agree on two things: Maryland's prison system has a staffing shortage, and correctional officers work too much overtime to make up the deficits. And while corrections officials said they're trying to fill the vacancies, the union warns that it's not happening fast enough — and between burnout and upcoming retirements, the situation could get worse. "We're in pretty rough shape," said Chris Duffy, president of Local 1772 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (part of AFSCME Maryland), which represents correctional officers at the prison complex south of Hagerstown. What's really needed is more officers, the union said. 
- Excerpted from a report in the Herald-Mail Media ​

---