Daniel Weintraub: Report says state shouldn't give guards a pay raise

Sacramento Bee ^ | 2/12/8 | Daniel Weintraub

[SmithL]

Rarely does a government report come along that I recommend people read for themselves. Normally, it's my job to read these things so you don't have to. But a report delivered last week from the state's Legislative Analyst's Office on the labor situation in the prisons is so good, and so important, that I suggest anyone with even a passing interest in state government get on the Internet and take a look.

You can find it at the analyst's Web site www.lao.ca.gov.

... The report looks at the current pay and benefits and the job market, and concludes that a 5 percent pay raise Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is offering the correctional officers is unnecessary. But the analyst also describes the relationship between the Schwarzenegger administration and the guards' union as "completely dysfunctional,"

... The prisons and the related parole system are staffed by about 30,000 correctional officers and parole agents, and the officers' pay ranges from about $45,000 per year (before overtime, benefits and other perks) to $73,000.

... The guards' union – the California Correctional Peace Officers Association – is at impasse with Schwarzenegger over a new contract. The union's last contract was negotiated by representatives of former Gov. Gray Davis in January 2002, on the eve of Davis' re-election campaign, and approved by the Legislature. It gave the officers a 34 percent raise over five years – more than twice as much as the average salary increase for state employees during the same period. The deal also gave the correctional officers a big increase in pension benefits so that officers can now retire as early as age 50. If they have 30 years on the job, they get 90 percent of their final pay.

The contract also gave the guards a more liberal overtime policy

[SoldierDad]

Based upon information I have read regarding the pay increases received by members of CCPOA, I would go further and say that a pay cut is warranted. Over the same time period in question here with respect to CCPOA, the pay increases received by other public employees pales in comparison. And, now the state faces huge budget short-falls and many are facing layoffs. It’s time that CCPOA share in the burden.

[edcoil]

They just got a 27% increase.

Reminds me of the post office. They are increasing to 42 cents in may but the just did an increase because less people are using the service.

[TnGOP]

Reminds me of the post office

Well, our pay increase last year was 1.3%. I don't see the similarity.

[TnGOP]

Well, there is also the twice yearly COLA increase and the step increases every 30 weeks. But other than that, it was just 1.3%

[Brad from Tennessee]

California needs to set a goal to privatize its prisons over the next 20 years. Any new prison should be built, managed and staffed private corrections companies.

[rednesss]

"Well, there is also the twice yearly COLA increase and the step increases every 30 weeks. But other than that, it was just 1.3%"

Does that include money made from smuggling drugs into the prison???? I've often wondered how drugs can be so prevalent inside prison unless they are being brought in by the staff.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) -- Softball, drunken orgies and a prison system run like the mafia. That's what Florida's former prison secretary says he inherited when he took over one of the nation's largest prison systems two years ago.

This house, on prison grounds in Florida, is described as a party house where prison officials held orgies.

In fact, on his first day on the job, James McDonough says he walked into his office -- the same one his predecessor used -- and there was crime scene tape preventing anyone from entering.

"That was an indication we had a problem in the department," McDonough told CNN in an exclusive interview before he stepped down last Thursday.

McDonough revealed a startling list of alleged abuses and crimes going on inside Florida's prisons:

• Top prison officials admitting to kickbacks;

• Guards importing and selling steroids in an effort to give them an edge on the softball field;

• Taxpayer funds to pay for booze and women;

• Guards who punished other guards who threatened to report them.

"Corruption had gone to an extreme," McDonough said, saying it all began at the top. "They seemed to be drunk half the time and had orgies the other half, when they weren't taking money and beating each other up."