3,200 prison jobs unfilled in Texas; low wages, better opportunities cited

HOUSTON — State data indicates many prison units in Texas are understaffed as the state struggles to retain prison guards, with a nearly 30 percent statewide turnover rate last year.

Vacancy rates at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice edged past 12 percent in the last fiscal year, with more than 3,200 jobs unfilled.

Data from the Texas State Auditor’s Office show a 28 percent turnover rate in the state’s roughly 26,000 officers at the Criminal Justice Department last year. The rate exceeded 40 percent in some places. The department had a 23 percent turnover rate a year earlier.

“A lot of these guys don’t want to work in a prison,” said Lance Lowry, a spokesman for the Texas Correctional Employees union. “There’s other job opportunities opening up in rural Texas.”

Some experts said officers are leaving for better-paying jobs in oil and gas, or in areas of economic growth.

“When the economy is doing well and growing is typically when we see correctional officers leave for better-paying jobs,” said Jason Clark, spokesman for the department. “The more rural areas tend to be more challenging, particularly in south Texas when we’ve seen an up-tick in oil and gas jobs being offered.”

Officers have warned that the presence of so many new prison staff members due to high turnover raises safety concerns.

“When you lose 20-some percent of your employees every year, it’s hard,” Lowry said.

Experts said low wages contribute to the staffing challenges in prisons. Data show officer pay starts at about $32,000 per year and plateaus at $43,000 after seven years.

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