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If Texas build new jails and prisons, will more guards come?

Every time you hear some "tuff on crime" Texas pol supporting jail and prison building, the first question to ask them is "Where are you going to find the guards?"The Texas prison system is nearly 4,000 guards understaffed statewide, and federal prisons, local jails and immigration detention facilities all have similar problems. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice already had to close a wing at one unit (in Dalhart) and reorganize another because they can't hire enough staff.Now Mike Ward at the Austin Statesman reports on another prison wing closing in Fort Stockton for the same reason ("State closes part of W. Texas prison because of guard shortage," June 5):Amid warnings that Texas' chronic shortage of prison guards is compromising security and public safety, officials said Wednesday that they are closing part of a remote West Texas prison because they don't have enough guards to properly staff it...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on June 06, 2008 (boomark / email).