SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Corrections has increased staffing levels by 468 correctional officers during the past calendar year, helping to drive down excessive overtime costs, an agency spokeswoman said.
IDOC spokeswoman Nicole Wilson said that between Dec. 31, 2014, and Nov. 30, 2015, IDOC has hired 1,114 new trainees who graduated from IDOC training academies. After accounting for attrition via resignation, retirements and dismissals, the net increase is 468 correctional officers, she said.
But while Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration applauded its efforts to increase staffing levels, Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said that even with the increase, staffing levels are far short of where they need to be. Lindall said IDOC employees are down to fewer than 11,000 at the start of 2015, compared to 17,000 employees in 2002.
Source: IDOC increases number of guards by 468 | Local News | thesouthern.com
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