The head of the Oklahoma's Department of Corrections says staff shortages and inmate overcrowding are jeopardizing the safety of prison workers and that many of them are leaving because of employee burnout.
DOC Executive Director Robert Patton told a Senate committee Wednesday that despite a pay increase for prison workers approved last year, the agency is struggling to retain workers. He says the agency needs to hire more than 850 prison guards to be fully staffed.
The Legislature is grappling with a $611 million hole in next year's budget, and Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman asked Patton how his agency would handle a 5 percent cut in its budget.
Patton says he would be forced to lay off hundreds of DOC employees and eliminate inmate education programs.
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