{"id":125449,"date":"2016-02-08T19:55:13","date_gmt":"2016-02-09T02:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=125449"},"modified":"2016-02-08T19:56:43","modified_gmt":"2016-02-09T02:56:43","slug":"staffing-shortages-force-state-to-limit-visitation-days-at-state-prisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2016\/02\/staffing-shortages-force-state-to-limit-visitation-days-at-state-prisons\/","title":{"rendered":"Staffing shortages force state to limit visitation days at prisons"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Heath Haussamen \/ NMPolitics.net<\/p>

The Corrections Department recently instituted a week-long ban on visitors to the prisons in order to ease the workload on officers. A spokeswoman said the department likely will impose the ban once a month until the department can hire and keep more guards.<\/p><\/div>\n

New Mexico officials say a staffing crisis caused by low pay for corrections officers is forcing the state to limit the number of visitation days at state-run prisons.<\/p>\n

The Corrections Department recently instituted a week-long ban on visitors to the prisons in order to ease the workload on officers. A spokeswoman said the department likely will impose the ban once a month until the department can hire and keep more guards.<\/p>\n

Nearly half of the positions at a state prison in Roswell are vacant because salaries are so slim that employees seek work elsewhere, officials say, often at county jails.<\/p>\n