05/08
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 2025
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
April 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
February 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
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
September 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
