The Department of Corrections plans to spend $3.1 million on temporary pay incentives.
The move comes after an anonymous complaint – which included concerns about pay -- led to a shakeup and ongoing review of the agency.
The temporary incentives include retention bonuses, higher wages for night shifts and double wages for voluntary overtime, Interim Secretary Tim Reisch told the Interim Joint Committee on Apportions on Wednesday. They will last from July 24 through March 2022.
Rep. Chris Karr said it’s important for the DOC and Legislature to create permanent pay increases to retain workers once the incentives end.
“You set a certain expectation and it’s hard to take away once you’ve given. That’s just the way it is so I’m just trying to understand what you’re thinking,” he said.
The DOC had 102.5 vacancies in July. Officials said it would be a security risk to share how many of the vacancies are at each prison.
The anonymous complaint said workers don’t get paid enough given the dangers of the job or in comparison to South Dakota jail guards or prison workers from neighboring states. It said the low pay is linked to staff shortages, which cause morale and safety issues. Other concerns from former and current workers include nepotism and inadequate safety equipment.
Multiple prison leaders have been fired or reassigned and the California-based CGL Companies is conducting a comprehensive review of the DOC. The $166,410 study runs from August 23 through December 10. Most of the report should be made public.