CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The shortage of corrections officers in West Virginia is prompting lawmakers to look at implementing across the board pay raises.

The increases would help the state recruit and retain employees.

Lawmakers and jail officials spoke about the issue Sunday during a Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority meeting during interims at the State Capitol.

Paul Simmons, acting deputy commissioner for the state Division of Corrections, said it’s difficult to retain officers particularly at the Huttonsville Correctional Center in Randolph County.

“We are unable to recruit and retain at that facility. It’s in a remote location, little things are popping up that has a better appeal to young people in that area that have better pay and better benefits,” Simmons said.

Correctional officer staffing is at a 22 percent vacancy rate, Simmons said. Currently, there are 100 correctional officer vacancies at Huttonsville. The Mount Olive Correctional Complex in Fayette County has 67 open officer positions.

In total, there are more than 900 vacancies, including support staff, within the state’s jail system.

David Farmer, executive director of the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority, said a majority of new employees leave within the first six months due to low pay.

Employees have to work double shifts because of the shortage. Senator Richard Ojeda (D-Logan, 07) told Farmer a pay improvement will help retention rates.

“Many of them are calling it quits in that profession because they’re getting no family time and it’s just not worth it. You just have to give people incentives to continue down this path, so definitely pay is a huge issue here,” Ojeda said.

Farmer told lawmakers they’re they’re looking at funding to implement a $6,000 pay improvement over the next three years.

“We would respectively request that that money come from general revenue and then in that three years, once our bonds are paid for, we could re-look at applying the bond money to cover that in our budget,” Farmer said.

“And that would cover the increases, help alleviate over time?” asked Senator Greg Boso (R-Nicholas, 11).

“Yes, sir,” Farmer said.

Another issue relating to officer shortages came into question Sunday. Farmer told Delegate Shirley Love (D-Fayette, 32) there are a lot of conflicts with prisoners and correctional officers.

“I would say inmates on officers assaults probably happen five to six times a week, but the severity of them vary,” Farmer said.

“With a record like that, that makes it hard to get someone to come work for you, doesn’t it?” Love asked.

“Absolutely, sir. It is a very demanding job with the staff shortages and the population that we’re currently serving,” Farmer said.

The state’s regional jails are overcrowded because there’s no room in the state Division of Corrections prisons. More than 1,400 sentenced inmates who should be in state prisons are currently housed in regional jails.