Some state lawmakers worried about prison understaffing

Friday, April 1st 2005, 5:48 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Rural state lawmakers say understaffing at state prisons is creating a public safety crisis and are demanded 12 (m) million in next year's state budget to fill 500 vacant correctional officer positions.

Representative Terry Harrison, whose district includes the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, said yesterday that the prison is authorized for 409 prison guards but that only 301 were on staff on Wednesday.

He says guards were put at risk twice last week during separate inmate knife fights at the prison. He says many guards are being asked to work double shifts because of understaffing and suffer from fatigue.