By Melissa Klaric
The Herald, Sharon, Pa.
MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County Jail Warden Mac McDuffie told the county commissioners at last week that he is in dire need of corrections officers.
Commissioners approved separating six corrections officers from employment at the meeting, a term used when anyone leaves county employment. McDuffie said most are leaving for higher paying jobs. Starting pay for corrections officers at Mercer County Jail is $18.62 per hour.
“It’s a real struggle in our community every day,” McDuffie said.
The jail is 18 corrections officers short. McDuffie said he has staff members who don’t even show up for work.
Checking his list of officers leaving, McDuffie told commissioners that one is leaving for the federal system and a higher salary. Three are going to the state for more pay. Another is going to Butler for a pay increase.
“It’s a challenge every day for us to find people,” McDuffie said. “We advertise on the internet. We have a banner in front of our jail.”
A recent study analyzed data on the number of COs and the number of prisoners in each state. Watch the video below to see which states have the most understaffed prisons.
In exit interviews McDuffie is conducting, the officers say they are leaving because of work requirements and low pay.
“They’re leaving for better jobs in the same field as corrections law enforcement for higher pay,” McDuffie said. “We’ve had discussions on how we can try to improve to attract more candidates for us.”
Commissioner Chair Ann Coleman agreed that commissioners have been a part of these discussions.
“We have met with Mac and we are working on a solution,” Coleman said. “We have an obligation to keep our staff safe at the jail and also to keep the people Mac is hosting at the jail safe also.”
Prison board President Peter C. Acker , who is also the county’s district attorney, said the prison board will do anything they possibly can do to alleviate the problem.
“It’s a multifaceted problem,” Acker said. “It’s a tough job. It’s hard to get people and it’s hard to keep people. It’s a never-ending challenge.”
McDuffie asked for the public’s help.
“I would love to have any help or any recommendations from anybody from within our communities to help us,” McDuffie said.
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