TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-- The Florida Department of Corrections announced on Friday that they are looking to hire more than four thousand new correctional officers by July of 2017.
Its an effort to fill existing vacancies and to account for projected turnover.
This comes after an audit in September said Florida prisons were chronically understaffed, costing the state millions in overtime costs and falling below the national standard.
Correctional Officers are responsible for the supervision, care, custody and control of inmates in a correctional institution or facility.
Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones said, "Properly staffing our institutions is critical to the safe and secure operations of our facilities. To ensure that our prisons are staffed appropriately, the Department is seeking more than 4,000 qualified individuals to proudly and bravely serve our state as correctional officers. Our hiring efforts are focused on recruiting courageous, honorable and hardworking men and women to join our team and take on our mission to provide a continuum of services to meet the needs of those entrusted to our care, creating a safe and professional environment with the outcome of reduced victimization, safer communities and an emphasis on the premium of life."
