Beginning in September, new correctional officers began receiving basic training right after an initial week of orientation at the prison where they work, state Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Pamela Walker said Thursday. The accelerated training schedule for new guards is among steps state prison officials have taken during the deadliest year in state history for prison employees. State officials also must confront the self-reinforcing problems of low pay and high risk. Pay for correctional officers in maximum-security North Carolina prisons is about $8,000 less than the national average. State officials refused a request to interview top Bertie officials, including David Millis, the prison’s acting administrator at the time of Callahan’s death, the newspaper said.

Source: National Post December 07, 2017 20:26 UTC