Maryland Prisons to Lose 400 Vacant Jobs

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Corrections is underfunded in Governor Martin O’Malley’s budget by about $55.8 million, based on current operations.

The Department needs another $77 million for optimal staffing conditions. The budget proposal requires the agency to cut 400 vacant positions out of 837 in the department, which will have about 11,250 regular positions, the lowest number since 2005.

The budget was put together with new 12-hour shifts for correctional officers in mind, but union opposition has put the longer shifts aimed at increasing efficiency in doubt.

The federal recovery act in Congress that is steering about $3.8 billion in aid to Maryland is largely tailored for specific needs, such as education, health care and transportation.