04/30
News
Explore news stories on the understaffing and overcrowding crisis in America’s prisons.
Stories featuring Safer Prisons, Safer Communities spokespeople are displayed in orange.
For press releases and media coverage, please click here.
May 2026
04/25
The Hill: Opinion: Prison reform doesn’t need to wait for tragedy
04/24
Interlochen Public Radio (Michigan): Michigan prisons ‘in a death spiral’ as officer vacancies, overtime pile up
04/22
WCAX (Vermont): Growing staffing crisis at Vermont prison puts employees and inmates at risk, union says
04/20
Nebraska Public Media: Nebraska corrections director says population, safety issues in youth facilities need to be addressed
04/18
Mid-Hudson News: Maher: State Prison staffing crisis driving unsustainable overtime costs
04/17
Dayton Daily News: ‘Go to your room and die’: Deaths at Dayton women’s prison underline staffing concerns
04/16
WLBT-TV (Alabama): State auditor demands $7.4 million from private prison operator over staffing shortages
04/10
Corrections1: N.Y. prison strike, staffing shortages drive $709M in DOCCS overtime spending
04/07
KXXV (Texas): Dreading what is to come': Former Central Texas inmates testify in trial over extreme prison heat
04/06
Canton Repository (Ohio): Ohio youth prison staff fear for safety amid shortages, union says
04/03
Canton Repository (Ohio): Troubled Ohio youth prison halts new admissions due to staff shortages
March 2026
03/30
New York Times: Federal Trial Opens Over Lack of Air-Conditioning in Texas Prisons
03/30
WUNC News: Q&A: NC's prison system is struggling to pay its bills and keep a safe staffing level
03/23
WCMU (Michigan): New initiative launches to increase staffing, safety in state prisons
03/23
MLive: Michigan launches ambitious plan to address prison violence and officer shortages
03/19
The Philadelphia Tribune: Philadelphia prisons pursue reforms as they rebuild staffing
03/17
KQED: California Proposes Ending Prison Heat Rule Exemption as Temperatures Rise
03/16
WHYY: Philadelphia prisons report a boost in staffing as Council considers new oversight board
03/16
Corrections1: After Va. correctional officer’s killing, widow pushes for prison safety reforms
03/13
Florida Politics: Left in the heat: Bills to require air conditioning in prisons stall again as lawsuit advances
03/11
State Affairs: State prison custody staff could also fall under receivership
03/06
Corrections1: Ky. jail tests new strategy to ease mandatory overtime for corrections officers
03/04
WDRB (Louisville, KY): Louisville Metro Corrections chief says jail ‘stretched to its limits,’ staff under strain
03/04
FEDweek: House Members Raise Alarm about Bureau of Prisons Understaffing
March 2026
02/25
National Public Radio "Consider This": How prison staffing shortages are driving away mental health staff
02/25
Corrections1: N.Y. prison staffing remains 20% below pre-strike levels, senator says
02/23
KTNV (Nevada): Prison staff overtime costing Nevada taxpayers millions of dollars
02/20
Nevada Independent: Nevada prison system OT continues to spiral; officers criticize state leaders
02/20
Federal News Network: House Democrats pressure Bureau of Prisons leadership on staffing ‘crisis’
02/19
FEDweek: Report Lays Out Causes, Effects of Bureau of Prisons Understaffing
02/18
The Carolina Journal: Commentary: To end NC’s prison crisis, pay corrections officers fairly
02/17
WSYR-TV (New York): One year after the strike: Can New York fix its prison system?
02/11
WTVR (Virginia): Virginia prison reports 69th inmate death in 3 years amid staffing concerns
02/08
USA Today: When cold weather becomes a death sentence
02/05
Cardinal & Pine (North Carolina): North Carolina prisons face ‘dire’ staffing crisis
02/04
Corrections1: Police union backs federal bill aimed at preventing corrections officer suicide
02/03
Reuters: Exclusive: State prisons grew deadlier and more violent amid guard shortage, review finds
January 2026
01/30
The Marshall Project: When Temps Plunge, Dilapidated Jails and Prisons Put Lives at Risk
01/29
Hoodline: Projected $1.2 Billion Bill for National Guard in NY Prisons Ignites Policy Debate
01/29
Gothamist: New York's prison strike has $1 billion tab – and climbing
01/29
AL.com: Alabama prisons add record number of officers but still well short of court-ordered goal
01/28
Forbes: The Bureau Of Prisons: When OIG Warnings Meet GAO Reality
01/26
Marshall Project: Amid ‘Catastrophic’ Shortage, Psychologists Flee Federal Prisons in Droves
01/26
Business NH: NH Prison System Still Plagued by Staffing Shortage
01/25
Mississippi Today: Two Mississippi prisons temporarily lose power amid freezing temps from winter storm
01/23
South Dakota Searchlight: Prison staffing hits highest level in years, but state struggles to keep new officers
01/22
NJ.com: Inside N.J.’s prison staffing crisis
01/20
CT Mirror: CT correction ombuds details ‘institutional failure’ in prison conditions report
01/20
CT Insider: Recurring failures' in CT prison system threaten health, safety of inmates and staff, report says
01/19
Rocky Mountain Voice: Opinion: Colorado’s prisons are on the verge of total collapse.
01/16
Government Executive: Lawmakers propose 35% pay raise for federal prison workers
01/15
NC Newsline: Budget stalemate contributes to ‘dire’ conditions in NC prisons, agency leader says
01/15
Corrections1: Bipartisan bill proposes 35% pay increase for federal correctional officers
01/14
Forbes: Bureau Of Prisons Continues To Have Issues With Medical Care: OIG
01/14
The Charlotte Observer: With prisons understaffed, Stein urges pay raises for NC correctional officers
01/14
The Nevada Independent: Two Nevada rural prisons have ‘critical labor shortage,’ state determines
01/08
Independent Voter News: California Prison Health Care Is Still Failing: Audit Exposes Dangerous Conditions Despite Billions in Funding
December 2025
12/31
WJLA (Maryland): Maryland correctional officers warn of rising violence, staffing crisis as 2026 approaches
12/29
Baltimore Banner: Maryland prison killings rise to decade high amid staffing shortage
12/25
Corrections1: ‘Headed down a dangerous path': Va. CO warned leaders of ‘unsafe’ conditions months before colleague was killed
12/22
Carson City Daily Record (Colorado): Violence, 16-hour days and no support: Why staff say they’re fleeing Colorado’s juvenile detention centers
12/18
The Nevada Independent: Outside study paints damning picture of staffing at Nevada prisons
12/16
WJCL (Savannah, Georgia): Georgia prison population rising as staffing shortages persist, commissioner says
12/15
WVTF (Virginia): Prison officers blame understaffing for violence behind bars
12/14
WRAL News (Associated Press): Pope criticizes prison overcrowding during special Mass for inmates, guards and families
12/08
The Marshall Project: Nurses Say Staff Shortage at Missouri Prison Means Skipped Medication, Long Waits for Care
12/04
The Hill: Opinion: Corrections can’t be the end of the road in our justice system
December 2025
11/21
ProPublica: “We’re Broken”: As Federal Prisons Run Low on Food and Toilet Paper, Corrections Officers Are Leaving in Droves for ICE
11/20
Corrections1: Va. prison system ‘dangerously understaffed’ before correctional officer’s death
11/19
The Assembly: The New Head of N.C.’s Prisons Tries to Unwind a Staffing Quagmire
11/19
WSYR (New York): How much has prison staffing slumped across New York State?
11/18
Wisconsin Public Radio: Review details problems with solitary confinement, overcrowding in Wisconsin prisons
11/12
The Jersey Vindicator: Watchdog: New Jersey prisons face deepening staffing crisis, growing humanitarian concerns
11/11
Wisconsin Examiner: Bills aim to address ‘inhumane’ conditions in Wisconsin prisons and jails
11/02
Standard Speaker (Pennsylvania): Argall bill to fight corrections officer shortage passes Senate
October 2025
10/30
KERA: What we know about Tarrant County’s new strategy with a staffing company to fill vacant jail jobs
10/20
Oregon Live: Inside Oregon’s oldest prison: 114-degree cells and $13M annual repairs
10/17
Law360: An Unseen Epidemic: Correctional Officers Dying By Suicide
10/15
CT Mirror: Report: Summer heat a threat to health at CT prisons
10/14
Corrections1: S.C. corrections union warns of ‘disaster upon disaster’ as BOP workers go unpaid during shutdown
10/13
Colorado Sun: Colorado’s prisons and jails are overflowing. What’s being done to address it?
10/08
Slate: The New York Prison System Is Facing a Potential Disaster “Unprecedented Since Attica”
10/02
Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska ranks near top of U.S. in prison overcrowding, OIG of Corrections reports
10/02
News Channel 9 (Tennessee): Safety concerns behind bars: Correctional staffing shortages remain high in Tennessee
October 2025
09/29
Alabama Reflector: Alabama state prison population could rise by a third by 2030
09/26
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Panel hears warnings on rising Indiana prison population, local corrections funding shortfalls
09/26
The Hill: Unjust, dangerous: Government shutdowns make correctional officers work without pay
09/24
Gothamist: NY prison staffing and morale are low 6 months after strike
09/22
Valley News: Sleeping on floors, a transfer to Mississippi: How Vermont is coping with prison overcrowding
09/22
Explore Clarion: Clarion County Transfers Inmates to Jefferson County Jail Amid Staffing ‘Crisis’
09/16
WCAX (Vermont): Union officials say Vermont prisons facing a staffing crisis
09/16
Mid-Hudson News (New York): State prison watchdog group says security staffing is down in all correctional facilities
09/10
West Virginia Watch: Staffing shortages still a challenge in West Virginia’s crowded jails
09/09
Corrections1: ‘Behind the Wall’ documentary highlights toll of prison work on correctional officers
09/03
Corrections1: Correctional union’s suicide prevention push aims to reshape prison culture
09/03
Corrections1: Opinion: No more empty promises: Federal correctional officers need real mental health support — now
09/02
Houston Chronicle: Four deaths in two weeks: What’s behind the surge in violence at one Texas prison
August 2025
08/26
Oklahoma Watch: As Oklahoma Prisons Embrace AI, Critics Warn of Risks
08/21
Austin American Statesman: (Opinion) Most Texas prisons still lack AC — and it's costing people their lives
08/20
Stateline: Extreme heat in prisons brings more legal challenges, pressure on states
08/14
The Baltimore Banner: ‘Indefinite lockdowns’ are keeping prisoners in nearly 24-hour confinement, group says
08/13
Public News Service: IN correctional facilities lack AC, occupants suffer in extreme heat
08/12
WUKY: For incarcerated people in KY, extreme heat poses danger
08/11
Hoodline: House Democrats Seek Federal Bureau of Prisons' Response to Inmate Safety Amid Extreme Heat
08/08
NBC 5: NY corrections officers' union rebukes state report on widespread strikes
08/06
The Tennessean: What termination letters to Tennessee's prison guards tell us about staff retention
08/05
WKBW (ABC Buffalo): National Guard soldiers still working in New York prisons, 5 months after corrections officers' strike
08/05
NPR Code Switch: Hot weather kills. Who gets protected?
08/01
WFSU Public Media: Under heat advisories, some worry about Florida's prison inmates -- others don't
July 2025
07/31
CT Mirror: Family and friends rally as hunger strike at Cheshire continues
07/30
Reuters: Scorching cells: How heat threatens lives in America’s prisons
07/28
Inside Climate News: As a Heat Wave Roiled Illinois, People Incarcerated Suffered The Most
07/25
News 10 (New York): State department of corrections reports progress in addressing prison guard staffing shortages
07/24
WIFR (Illinois): 70 law enforcement jobs to be cut at federal prison, union leader says
07/20
Gothamist: Prisons drive $1.3 billion in NY overtime spending
07/17
Texas Tribune: Most Texas prisoners don’t have AC access and it’s unclear when they will get it
07/13
The Davis Vanguard: Chronic Understaffing Fuels Correctional Officer Burnout and Safety Risks
07/11
Wisconsin Watch: ‘Band-Aid on the problem’: Past raises haven’t fully solved Wisconsin prison staffing problems
07/09
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: You can see the steam off the ground': Wisconsin slow to add cooling system in prisons despite rising heat
07/05
New Haven Register: Rising CT correction officer overtime sparks cost, safety concerns
07/04
MLive: 10-year double in overtime at Michigan prisons taking toll on guards and inmates
07/04
Arizona Capitol Times: Prison oversight office approved, but lacks funds to get started
July 2025
06/30
Forbes: Bureau Of Prisons Director William Marshall Addresses Challenges
06/29
Arizona Capitol Times: Another prison death reignites GOP push for oversight
06/27
cleveland.com: (Opinion) Tasers won’t make Ohio prisons safer. Improved working conditions will.
06/27
Lancaster Online: Warden addresses prisoners' refusal to eat over heat in Lancaster County Prison
06/25
Lancaster Online: Lancaster County loses challenge to labor award for corrections officers
06/24
WRIC (Virginia): Prisoners ‘nearly suffocate every night’ as some VADOC facilities have no AC
06/23
Wisconsin Watch: Why is Wisconsin’s prison system such a ‘mess,’ and what can be done to fix it?
06/23
New York Times: New York’s Prisons Were in Crisis. Did Hochul Do Enough to Fix Them?
06/19
Alabama Daily News: Despite progress, Alabama to miss court deadline on hiring enough correctional officers
06/19
WSLS (Virginia): Va Department of Corrections implements heat relief measures for prisons without air conditioning
06/17
News Channel 5 Nashville: Tennessee man starts new career journey as a TDOC correctional officer
06/17
Politico Pro: Prison heat program halted after EPA gutted its grant
06/15
Arizona Daily Star: Arizona lawmakers' push for independent prison oversight stalls
06/13
Tennessee Lookout: Stockard on the Stump: Private-prison operator to see inmate reduction after riot
06/12
Santa Fe New Mexican: Labor board orders NM prisons have safe staffing levels
06/10
Iowa Public Radio: Understaffed: The mental health crisis in Nebraska prisons
06/06
The Florida Times-Union: More money, more problems? Florida’s budget battle belies chronic issues
06/04
Spectrum News: Assembly passes bill to address PTSD benefits for corrections officers, dispatchers
06/04
Tampa Bay Times: Florida’s National Guard will soon leave state prisons
06/04
Wyoming Public Radio: Wyoming’s prisons are among the lowest staffed in the country
May 2025
05/30
NC Newsline: NC prisons are a mess and lawmakers must act
05/28
News From The States: As NC budget writers get down to brass tacks, a crisis in corrections looms large
05/27
CNN: Staffing shortages, old facilities, and ‘nothing to lose’: These are the factors that contribute to prison breaks across the country
05/26
Truthout: (Opinion) Family Visitation Rights Have Eroded in New York Prisons Following Guard Strike
05/21
FOX 10 Phoenix: Arizona prisons director talks inmate violence, staffing and transparency
05/20
New York Public News Network: Bill to expand New York's prison oversight body passes in state Senate
05/20
WKBW (ABC Buffalo): Low staffing levels': 535 New York State corrections officers resigned during, after wildcat strike
05/19
New Hampshire Bulletin: NH corrections commissioner resigns amid staffing challenges and budget woes
05/16
MLive: ‘Constant shenanigans‘: Corrections officers urge lawmakers to enact stalled pro-worker bills
05/16
Hoodline: Texas House Approves Bill Mandating Air Conditioning in State Prisons to Address Health Risks
05/14
Idaho News 6: New Idaho corrections director talks staffing, rehabilitation, and firing squad plans
05/14
Minnesota Reformer: Our prison system is in trouble. Neglecting it will be disastrous.
05/14
Governing: The Surprisingly Expansive Role of the National Guard
05/12
WTTW - Chicago PBS: Lockdowns, Staffing Shortages at Illinois Prisons Leads to Visit Cancellations
05/08
Associated Press: Cash-strapped Bureau of Prisons freezes some hiring to ‘avoid more extreme measures,’ director says
05/08
Governing: What Can Be Done to Make Prisons Better Workplaces
05/07
The Floridian: Lee Discusses Prison Reform in House Judiciary Hearing
05/05
Spectrum News: Backlog of inmates waiting to be moved to N.Y. state prisons begins
05/02
The Daily Caller: EXCLUSIVE: House Subcommittees To Hold Hearing Investigating ‘Woke Nonsense’ At Bureau Of Prisons
05/02
Associated Press: Lawsuit alleges people imprisoned in Alaska receive inadequate health care
May 2025
04/26
The Hill: Prison understaffing: A crisis seen by few, felt by prisoners and prison employees
04/24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Two women died of pneumonia at Taycheedah prison after flu outbreak, autopsy shows
04/23
WWNY (New York): Should NY lower age to be a CO from 21 to 18?
04/22
WHEC (New York): Gov. Hochul aims to lower age requirement for corrections officers to 18 as New York prisons grapple with staffing crisis
04/22
KPAX (Montana): Montana lawmakers look at expanding prison facilities
04/18
St. Louis Public Radio: Bipartisan ‘Larry’s Law’ could create independent prison oversight in Missouri
04/13
Shaw Local: Rep. Sorensen urges passage of suicide prevention act honoring Chadwick man
04/10
Indianapolis Star: Indiana Gov. Braun seeks to reduce turnover among prison guards
04/09
Corrections1: New York prison strikes reveal a national staffing crisis
04/09
WWNY: County jails feel effects of state shortage of corrections officers
04/08
Forbes: A Front-Line View From The Bureau Of Prisons
04/04
Spectrum News: Prison strike still causing headaches in the state budget and beyond
04/04
WWNY: Corrections officers’ union calls for ‘urgent meeting’ with state over ‘workplace crisis’
04/03
WSFA 12 News: ADOC graduates largest class of correctional officer trainees on record
04/03
Tennessee Lookout: “Floating crew” required at Tennessee prison to oversee inmates
04/01
Spectrum News: Staffing crisis in New York prisons leads to early releases for some incarcerated individuals
04/01
Associated Press: New York to release some prison inmates early over shortage of guard staff
March 2025
03/29
WILX News 10: Corrections officers graduate, help fill shortage at Michigan prisons
03/28
Rochester First: Former correction officers call for increased safety at prisons
03/28
Forbes: Bureau Of Prisons Is ‘Rudderless’ Operation, Says Former Director
03/27
WQAD 8: Proposed bill would establish a grant to fund mental health services for correctional officers
03/26
Government Executive: Efforts to boost VA recruitment and promote BOP mental health get another push from House members
03/21
FOX 5 Atlanta: Georgia allocates $250M to tackle prison neglect and violence
03/13
State Affairs: Budgeting for safety: Georgia eyes $250M to tackle prison staffing and security crisis
03/11
North Carolina Health News: NC prisons struggle to meet health care demands amid rising costs, staff shortages
03/07
WLRN Public Media: More than 2 years later, National Guard remains stationed in Florida prisons. Will they ever leave?
03/05
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Corrections officers warn public about risks of staffing levels at prisons
03/04
Virginia Mercury: ‘Dangerously understaffed:’ Inmates describe fear and violence behind Red Onion’s walls
03/04
New York Times: Seven Prisoners Die as New York Guard Strikes Cause Widespread Disarray
03/04
Correctional News: Correctional Staff Wellness, An Overlooked Crisis in Corrections
03/04
Dallas Observer: Texas Prisons Are Fatally Hot, a Lawsuit and a Lawmaker Are Changing That
March 2025
02/27
Seattle Times: WA bill would help coroners, correctional officers get PTSD coverage
02/26
Forbes: Bureau Of Prisons To Cancel Staff Retention Bonuses
02/25
WVTF: An internal report shows state prisons are dangerously understaffed
02/23
New York Times: Inmate Dies at N.Y. Prison as Corrections Officers’ Strike Continues
02/21
Nashville Banner: State Bumps Starting Salaries for Correctional Officers Due To Persistent Staffing Problems
02/20
CBS News New York: As NY prison guard strike continues, visitation is canceled in all facilities
02/19
NBC: National Guard sent in to 'secure' New York prisons where staff is on strike
02/18
Spectrum News: A look at the numbers behind why New York's correction officers are striking
02/14
WKBW: 70% is the new 100%': New York State Department of Corrections workers worry about potential job cuts
02/13
Quad Cities Business (Illinois): Legislation aims to improve pay and safety for federal prisons
02/13
VICE: New York Prison Overrun by Inmates During Staff Shortage Crisis
02/13
WGRZ: New York lawmakers question the corrections commissioner on staffing levels in prison
02/12
Associated Press: Illinois data shows inmates with violent records from shuttered prison sent to medium-security sites
02/12
Florida Politics: Prison problems continue, as Senators hear of significant staff shortfalls
02/12
Florida Phoenix: Florida Dept. of Corrections head says OT costs are becoming a serious problem
02/10
Kitsap Sun: Correctional officers struggling with PTSD could be provided coverage under new bill
02/06
Roll Call: Federal correctional officers driven to ask Congress for a raise
02/03
The Tennessean: Why former guard and others say CoreCivic understaffs this troubled small town prison
January 2025
01/31
Dallas Observer: Texas Prisons Suffer From Dangerous Understaffing
01/31
The Daily Progress: Virginia prisons 'dangerously understaffed,' state report finds
01/31
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin DOC undergoing external review of prison conditions, use of solitary confinement
01/30
Savannah Morning News: Georgia prisons chief asks lawmakers for $10.4 million for staffing
01/28
Corrections1: The hidden toll of the night shift: How off-hours work impacts correctional officers’ lives
01/27
St. Louis Today: Too few guards, too many inmates at St. Louis jail, report says
01/23
South Dakota Searchlight: Prison medical staff shortage worsens as security shortage eases
01/23
Alabama Political Reporter: Alabama prisoners dying at a rate four times the national average
01/22
Honolulu Civil Beat: Report: Hawai‘i Prison Guards Face ‘Unsustainable’ Working Conditions
01/21
Missouri Independent: Missouri lawmakers push for oversight panel to monitor conditions in state prisons
01/15
Texas Standard: Texas prisons don’t have enough guards. Filling the gaps is costing the state money.
01/13
Stateline: Prison abuse, deaths and escapes prompt calls for more oversight
01/13
Forbes: Prisons Across Country Face Challenge Of Finding Workers
01/10
NPR: The prison population is going up as prisons struggle with staffing and overpopulation
01/09
Houston Chronicle: How Texas prisons are spending millions on a 'dangerous' staffing crisis as population soars
01/08
Georgia Public Broadcasting: Gov. Kemp recommends adding $372 million to shore up Georgia prisons
01/02
Corrections1: ‘He’s not just a statistic': Correctional officer’s widow leads mental health push after husband’s suicide
01/02
Alabama Political Reporter: Alabama incarceration rates rose in 2023 amid overcrowding
December 2024
12/27
The Statehouse News Bureau: State says Ohio prison wasn’t short-staffed prior to fatal assault on corrections officer
12/25
NC Newsline: Prison overcrowding demands immediate action from state leaders
12/18
Associated Press: Georgia senators want mental health funding and staffing to address prison deaths
12/17
Axios: Staff turnover is staggering in Arkansas' prison system
12/13
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Prison reforms get Senate committee backing
12/10
Corrections1: Roundtable: How the corrections profession was challenged in 2024
12/05
The Guardian: US shuts down prisons amid scrutiny over sexual abuse and crisis of suicides
12/05
New York Times: U.S. Is Closing California Prison Plagued by Sexual Abuse
12/04
Associated Press: Health care for Maryland prisoners was compromised by poor oversight, audit finds
12/03
Stateline: State prisons turn to extended lockdowns amid staffing shortages, overcrowding
12/01
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Were holiday stabbings in Philly prisons connected to lower staffing?
October 2024
10/15
The Idaho Statesman: Idaho jails frequently fail inspections. Some say they ‘can’t’ meet minimum standards
10/10
The Marshall Project: Prison Staff Shortages’ Toll on Prisoners, Guards and Their Families
10/10
The Tennessean: Tennessee's corrections chief balks at more oversight: 'I know how to run the prisons'
10/09
The Baltimore Banner: Years to fix a prison fence? Maryland CO’s union says working conditions are dire
10/05
The Hawkeye: 'It’s a systemic issue': Union calls for more state funding, help and return of collective bargaining rights following attacks on ISP guards
10/01
Associated Press: Justice Department says Georgia ‘deliberately indifferent’ to prison abuses
10/01
Texas Public Radio: Texas prison system’s staffing crisis and outdated technology endanger guards and inmates
October 2024
09/30
WTNH: Connecticut prison system under fire for alleged ‘inhumane’ conditions
09/25
San Antonio Express-News: Sweltering heat worsens Texas’ prison staffing crisis
09/11
