Retirement Plan Could Double C.O. Shortage

SACRAMENTO — California’s correctional officer shortage is expected to be compounded this year when an early retirement policy negotiated four years ago takes effect, significantly increasing the number of prison workers eligible for retirement.

The state’s shortage of 2,000 correctional officers is expected to double during the next fiscal year, according to the state Department of Finance.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is hoping to counter the shortage by opening a new training facility that, along with the training facility in operation now, will help add 2,600 new officers to the prison system.

The new pension benefit allows correctional officers to retire at age 50 and receive 3 percent of their highest annual salary for each year served.

Staffing shortages are nothing new for the state’s prison system. A July 2002 report by the state auditor stated that the agency that oversees state prisons deliberately kept about 1,000 correctional officer positions open to make up for shortfalls in the budget. A record-high inmate population of more than 171,000 inmates has also put a significant strain on California’s prison employees.