Utah Prison Buses In Officers To Fill Staffing Shortage

Officials say nearly 200 of the 540 positions at Utah State Prison are vacant. KUTV reports the staffing shortage has forced Utah Department of Corrections officials to bus eight corrections officer more than 100 miles from the prison in Gunnison to the state prison in Draper twice a day. Former lawmaker and current Fraternal Order of Police lodge director Chad Bennion says working conditions are pretty dire and has led to mandatory overtime for corrections officers. Bennion and the corrections department are asking lawmakers to pay for a multi-year compensation plan to help recruit workers.