Comments on: Lawmakers Turn Down Florida DOC Prison Staffing Request

By: Mandy

Mandy — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 00:34:15 +0000

Read the comments. That is why we are looked at the way we are. We would rather fight among each other than stand together.

By: Tracy Kriss

Tracy Kriss — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 22:29:55 +0000

Staff is not overworked by the 12 hour shifts. The majority of the staff like the 12 hour shifts because it gives them more time with their families. Correction Officers are tired because they are working overtime or a 2nd job to get by. I am going on 9 years as a correction officer and a brand new officer makes the exact same amount. They need to do the step raises throughout the department to keep the seasoned staff that you have. WE NEED A RAISE!

By: chris in Molino

chris in Molino — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 14:11:26 +0000

@LW
Best comment by far. You sure know how to say what you’re trying to say in a manner that doesn’t create strife. Thanks.

By: LW

LW — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 00:30:32 +0000

15 years with the DC. Way too much feel good coolaid pumped down my throat to see past the real issue (and it has nothing to do with the great new patch, seal, FDC logo, or redesigned uniforms). Divide and conquer has always been the Tallahassee way. We had it better a long time ago for many reasons. First: We are good honorable people who have not committed felonies (and not only because we haven’t got caught yet – That Line is Disgusting and Cheap, always has been). The truth is nobody goes beyond complaining anymore. Tallahassee had issues with the PBA for a reason. (Not a perfect union but they werent ran by the son of a mobster. Plus they would actually fight for us from time to time on REAL issues.) If you work at a Pride Camp or near a region office you can attest: The corruption extends from the Assistant Warden’s (who get kick backs in their bank accounts for cutting positions) all the way to the Governor’s Office. No one had their hand in the cookie jar up to his elbow like Bush. And he wonders why he had to drop out of the GOP running.
We can organize and get this right. We can effect the legislature. We do not need 1983 conditions to do it. We must band together and demand better working conditions, benifits, pay, and respect. Our culture is not one of corruption, it is one of poor training and failure of our supervisors to back us up. Too many rules to govern or explain other rules and grown ups being treated like children. I was raised by and around LEO (My dad and uncle are Chiefs of Police). The idea of micro managing a department is absurd and counter productive.
Call your Union Reps, talk to your legislative representatives. Start a movement and take our department back. Let the Tallahassee cronies and the Department Representatives have their coolaid, we are the only ones that can get results. Talk to an “old timer” with 25 plus years of experience. They did the work and made the union work for them. They were mistreated and underpaid and they did something about it. It’s time to get away from whatever excuse we have established and follow the examples set years ago. We are out of sight and out of mind. NO ONE Cares but us. Lets light it up so the truth about our prison system and our Tallahassee Supervisors can come to light. No one wants to hear about it so make some noise they have to do something about. Make them shut us up so they can go back to their feel good ignorance. PREA doesn’t work, Staff Development is falling short, corruption is on the rise, introduction of contraband makes me think I’m working in a third world prison system not the Florida DC. We were the best, if we don’t do something we are well on our way to the bottom of the barrel. Maybee it’s already too late. Why not fight now? If not now, never mind.

By: Ponch

Ponch — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 07:12:33 +0000

@Jake

He didn’t. At least not in the sense that you mean. He worked for gain time, not an hourly wage.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 04:02:42 +0000

@Chris how many years did you work for doc why did you give it up

By: chris in Molino

chris in Molino — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 00:45:31 +0000

@Retired Co
Perhaps, if you started early 70’s. Corrections was much different then. Its like anything else today the world and character of the people have gone to crap. Theres so much information to process that one cannot focus on one thing. Too much confusion.
I respect my elders so thank you for the 30 years. I suppose our lives are only measured by the good we do and leave behind. Rick Scott is a dunce, we all know that. Not sure it matters who’s in charge anymore. Even if we can get a good politician, media and public perception is much more powerful than any one or group of men. Hopefully though, officers will come together to win what they need through intelligence. It surely will never come from this.

By: Johnny Baker

Johnny Baker — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 22:46:58 +0000

If you guys will remember, or maybe you don’t. I personally challenged both the former leader of the house and senate to come work at a mans prison for 2 weeks, back more than 6 years ago. Mr. Haridopoulus was to much of a chicken as was his side kick from the other side. You are correct about some screwed up politicians. I am wondering what the health care fiasco has to do with staffing, aren’t you? What a cop out on their part to fix this crap. Best wishes to you guys, I like working my Sheriff.

By: Sergeant with 8

Sergeant with 8 — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 20:56:34 +0000

This is crazy to me! My husband and I both work with DOC, I recently left for a better paying county job same field. Florida DOC hasn’t seen pay raises in 8 years. The only increase in received was promoting. In fact we’ve taken a five percent pay cut thanks to Rick Scott and President Obama. My husband works at a male facility and either the rise of assaults on staff, violent offenders, and lack of concern by administration and apparently law makers, the thought of raising two children alone because of faulty equipment lack of staff, or overworked staffs response time scares me to death. I hope this gets a second look, staff are truly suffering.

By: Retired CO

Retired CO — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:49:02 +0000

@Chris in Molino, I retired after 30 years as a correctional officer, thanks for asking!. I’d wager that you weren’t even born when I started.
A lot has indeed changed in those three decades, mainly the attitude of the young officers today that don’t understand the concept of working hard toward better pay and benefits. Most would rather complain and get somebody else to fight for them in Tallahassee. I have been there myself in the past and I have personally stood up in the Capitol and fought for what was right. Too many people want it all right now and aren’t willing to put forth the effort or the time needed to affect real change.
Govonor Scott is not now, nor has he ever been a friend to corrections. His efforts to privatize the industry shows his contempt for all of us. Every study conducted has shown privatization to be an abject failure in the long run, ending up costing far more than if the government had maintained operations all along. This is his plan, get everybody so disgruntled that they quit which will create a staffing crisis (as though there isn’t one now) thus opening the door for an emergency order to bring in one of his personally affiliated private operators like CCA.
Let us not forget that the legislature is also attacking your retirement and medical benefits as well. If the employees don’t get more involved soon, they (the legslature) will think that everybody is OK with the course they are setting and cut into your livelihood even further!
Yes, I am retired, my days of entering the compound are done and I do enjoy the retired life that my 30 years of toil has provided. Now it is up to other people to take up the good fight. It can be won, but more of you must become personally involved or they will see the lack of resolve as a weakness and run over everyone.
Good luck!