Persistent staffing shortages are undermining safety, driving up costs, and weakening correctional systems nationwide.
Since 2019, staff assaults rose 77%, assaults between incarcerated people 54%, and deaths in custody 45%.
About 200,000 people work as corrections officers, making DOCs among the largest state employers. Each year, hundreds of thousands leave prison, and millions have a family member working or living inside.
In 2024, overtime costs topped $2B. Corrections alone made up 40%, fueled by vacancies and turnover that strain budgets and staff.
Most states do not share corrections workforce data. When reported, it is often incomplete, irregular, or limited to certain jobs or facilities. National sources track overall employment, but not the details needed to see staffing gaps. Without reliable data, leaders cannot identify risks, test strategies, or address instability.
