Topic: Economy & Stimulus / Inmates NOT feeling the RECESSION

Since the recession started, the department in which I am employed has cut tons from the budget. It’s strange that they tell us they have no money but recently remodeled AN INMATE recreation yard, bought brand new (20"+) rims for the SRT truck, cut the Detention Service Officer’s number of working hours, recently demolished the old booking facility and plans to rebuild a high rise FOR INMATES, recently purchased all black uniforms for the line staff, changed their minds and shortly after that purchased green BDU uniform for the line staff, they are considering purchasing flat-screen televisions for the inmates and recently purchased digital converters, bought brand new communication radios (from what I hear are $2,500 each,) recently purchased new yellow suits and boots for trustees, ELIMINATED the shake-down team, purchased new ($100.00) flash lights for all night shift employees, are NOT giving us a raise this year and…As if all that was not enough, I have heard they are looking at going to minimum staffing which means less officers on the floor. One Captain told me “the inmates today are a lot more irrational than they were when I was on the floor.” If this is true, why would you constantly cut our safety and security? What happened to all of us sticking together? Seems the administration is out for self-merit. I guess EVERYTHING is political. The sheriff (who runs the sheriff’s department and not this county’s corrections department) recently gave a presentation to county commissioners and after that presentation, it is beleived that the sheriff’s department budget will NOT BE CUT THIS YEAR. By the way, the website is www.Bestjail.com