RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WXPR) – On January 1st starting pay for corrections officers in Oneida County bumped up to $23.90 an hour.
The pay increase comes in response to a widespread shortage of corrections officers. The state of Wisconsin has more than 1,200 vacancies for the positions, and counties feel that pressure too.
Oneida County Sheriff Grady Hartman says his team is feeling the pinch of several recent vacancies. “We were stable for quite some time, and in the last two or three years, it’s really grown exponentially.”
Hartman is looking to hire at least eight corrections officers. That’s a significant chunk of staff for a facility the size of Oneida Counties. “We run with 26 total, including our two administrators, so being down 8 line staff is getting up there.”
In the meantime, current staff have to work overtime and deputies are filling in for their colleagues.
Hartman says no experience is necessary for the corrections officer position. State law requires corrections officers to have a high school diploma, but other training is provided on the job.
Comments