Nevada’s rural prisons struggle to keep staff

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 10:17 a.m.

Many prison guards are working double shifts, at overtime pay, to make up for the growing number of vacancies, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported Thursday.

At Lovelock, nearly 54 percent of the staff commutes from Reno, Fernley, Fallon and Winnemucca. Lovelock, along Interstate 80, is 95 miles east of Reno; 62 miles east of Fernley; 58 miles east of Fallon; and 70 miles west of Winnemucca.

One problem is pay. Certified correctional officers in Nevada earn as much as 25 percent less than law enforcement in big cities, notably Las Vegas.

From September 1998 to August 1999, 27 percent of those who resigned from jobs at Lovelock did so for better pay in the public and private sector, according to the prison. Another 21.6 percent did so for family obligations.

"It's discouraging when you know people come here to work and then get burned out," said Jackie Crawford, warden at Lovelock.

After deductions for costly health insurance and mandatory retirement, "many of our newcomers could qualify for food stamps," Associate Warden Robert Hildreth said.

The 1999 Legislature answered with a 5 percent pay boost for those who work in Lovelock and Ely. And all correctional officers will receive a special 5 percent raise Jan. 1, 2001.

Additionally, lawmakers ordered a study of prison staff compensation that could lead to changes in the 2001 Legislature.

For now, prison administrators face a daunting challenge in hiring, as well as keeping, staff to maintain order in their prisons.

The medium-security prison in Lovelock has 37 vacancies, up from 28 in May, out of 213 positions. Ely's maximum-security prison has 54 vacancies.

"It's not unique. Most of the Western states are experiencing the same problem," said Bob Bayer, director of the Nevada Department of Prisons.

But the raises aren't nearly enough to offset the toll on an overworked staff, said Bob Gagnier, head of the State of Nevada Employees Association, which has chapters in Lovelock and Ely.

"Both prisons are designed well. But especially in Ely, people are burning out faster than we can hire them," Gagnier said. "They are frustrated. There are no security problems yet, but it will happen."

Bayer insists the staff shortages pose no increased risks. Still, officials are looking for ways to attract and keep staff.

Starting Nov. 29, the Lovelock prison will begin a one-year pilot program where correctional officers can sign up to work 12-hour shifts for four days, take three days off, then work three days with four days off.

"It will help break up the commute," Crawford said. "We have to be on the cutting edge. The private sector is doing it. We surveyed other states, and they're trying it."

Bayer said he'll wait and see how it works before he authorizes a flexible-shift program at Ely.