(La Porte County, IN) - The work release center in La Porte County might have to shut down at least temporarily.

 

During Monday night’s La Porte County Council meeting, Interim Director Mericka Beaty said five male correctional officers plan on quitting after recently submitting two-week notices.

 

Beaty said the facility housing more than 50 male offenders and close to 10 female offenders would have just one male correctional officer if all of them follow through on their intentions of leaving once the notices expire on October 7.

 

“I have some female workers who are considering doing the same thing,” Beaty said.

Beaty also said there are no job applicants for openings at the already short-staffed facility near the fairgrounds. She cited low pay and having to work a lot of overtime for an extended period as significant factors in the latest departures.

 

Beaty said correctional officers are also not paid cash for overtime. Instead, they receive compensatory time but cannot utilize their time off from work because of the low staffing numbers.

 

In response, the council voted to endorse a 10 percent pay increase for correctional officers at the facility. The proposed increase in pay is expected to come up for a formal vote by the council next month.

 

La Porte County Commissioner Sheila Matias said there might not be any other choice but to temporarily close the facility until enough job applicants are found and trained to become correctional officers.

 

“That program needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. There’s some really good staff there, but it’s going to take some time,” Matias said.

The La Porte County Community Corrections Advisory Board must make any decision to close the facility.

 

One of the advisory board members is La Porte County Sheriff John Boyd, who said there are options for the offenders should the work release center close until staffing levels are restored. He said the possibilities include judges ordering offenders to continue serving their sentences in the county jail or on home detention.

 

Boyd said work release allows non-violent offenders to financially support their families by allowing them to be employed and stay at the facility until returning to their jobs. He said the facility also helps prevent jail overcrowding.

 

“I’d hate to see it go by the wayside,” Boyd said.