PINE BLUFF -- The Jefferson County Quorum Court will consider tonight whether to approve raises for jailers, along with a request to expand the number of workers at the Jefferson County jail.
The move comes almost two weeks after 80 inmates caused more than $20,000 in damage during a riot at the 327-inmate-capacity jail. Jail officials said the uprising likely occurred because inmates know the facility is understaffed.
Money for raises and hiring additional employees would come from an existing one-fourth percent sales tax and a 1 percent public safety sales tax that now fund operations and equipment.
An exact amount needed for the requests is still being worked out, said Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Ted Harden, who has been working closely with the sheriff's office and jail officials on the matter.
"We expect to have it all lined out by Monday night," he added.
Both County Judge Dutch King and Jefferson County Sheriff Gerald Robinson were out of the office Friday afternoon and unavailable for comment on the issue.
After last month's jail riot, Robinson spoke about the importance of hiring more workers at the jail, as well as increasing pay.
"My thing is, we have to do what's right," he said. "What's right is we adequately staff that jail, adequately pay those people so they're not at the poverty level. We have to.
"This is not about politics. My officers' safety and the operation of the jail is most important."
There are now 31 jailers at the facility, which is struggling with a high employee turnover rate attributed to low pay, Jefferson County jail Administrator Greg Bolin said.
The jail has 36 slots for jailers but needs to add 12 more to deal with crowding, Bolin said. The jail averages between 330 and 350 inmates.
According to human resources data, in 2014, there were 30 employees hired as jailers and 27 who quit. In 2013, 33 were hired and 18 quit.
The cost to hire and train jailers is just over $4,000, and the high turnover rate has left the jail with significant financial losses in the past few years.
Harden said that this year, the jail has spent $43,000 in training costs because of jailers leaving for other jobs. In 2014, the jail lost $130,000, and in 2013, the loss was $143,000.
In Jefferson County, the starting salary for a jailer with little or no experience is $23,000 annually. In contrast, the Arkansas Department of Correction offers a starting salary of $27,000. Pulaski County pays a starting salary of $31,149 to its jailers.
Jefferson County leaders recently had to ask elected officials to shuffle their budgets to contribute money to the county general fund because it was nearly depleted. That fund pays a majority of the county's workers, but not jail employees.
County officials have said layoffs -- which wouldn't affect the jail -- will likely be needed in the near future to prevent the full depletion of the county general fund.
A decades-long decline in Jefferson County's population has resulted in less tax money for the county, which has contributed to the financial woes. Additionally, spending has outpaced revenue over the past few years, as well.
But money that funds the jail has actually increased because it is separate from other county operations, county officials said. According to county data, the one-fourth percent sales tax brings in more than $2 million annually.
Around the county, some with loved ones housed at the jail are concerned about their safety.
Rhonda Jones said her relative feared for his life during the riot. She declined to give the person's name out of fear that he would be a target for retribution.
"It's scary to think about how out of control things can get and the fact that there are only a handful of people on duty at a time," Jones said. "I know people think that folks who are locked up deserve mistreatment, but they don't. We need to ensure their safety. Something has to be done, and I think hiring more jailers is the right thing to do."
State Desk on 08/10/2015