LANSING, Mich. — Sen. John Damoose on Wednesday voted in favor of three bills aimed at strengthening employee morale and creating incentives to fill more positions within the Michigan Department of Corrections.
“The problem is simple,” said Damoose, R-Harbor Springs. “Without additional pay and benefits, our prisons are not able to hire or retain enough officers. That means forced overtime for those who do actually work — which usually occurs without significant notice and in a terribly difficult, high-stress work environment.
“I have been calling on my colleagues to get momentum behind these bills for months, and it’s time to get the job done. I voted yes on each of these bills to stand behind our corrections workers and show them we mean business.”
Senate Bills 165-167 would allow state corrections officers to participate in the state police pension fund — which includes both a pension component and a 401(k)-type savings component. The bills would place eligible new employees hired after Sept. 30, 2024, directly into the state police pension plan.
According to testimony, as of May 2023, about 17% of corrections officer positions statewide were vacant, which has resulted in a workplace climate where 16-hour workdays due to mandatory overtime are not uncommon. This additional strain on an already difficult work environment has led to corrections officers facing mental health, substance abuse, and family issues.
“Since my first visit to the Kinross Correctional Facility, and in the numerous meetings there since, and in talks with dozens of prison employees, I have never seen a more frustrated and demoralized workforce — and rightfully so,” Damoose said. “We need meaningful solutions that will help address the core issues and one of the most common suggestions was reforming the pension system. These changes mark a significant step in the right direction and will help with both attracting and retaining new workers.”
Damoose also called on his House counterparts to pass these bills quickly so they can be signed into law.
“The wheels of government are known to move slowly, but time is of the essence here,” the senator said. “We know what the issue is; we’ve heard from the workers, so we just need to get it done.”