Short-Staffed Florida Prisons Consider Calling on the National Guard

Storm clouds pass over the Booking and Release Center at the Orange County Jail in Orlando, Fla., on July 16, 2011. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is experiencing an officer shortage which has led a legislative panel to consider a plan that would activate the Florida National Guard to help at prisons.

A report issued by the Joint Legislative Budget Commission proposes that $31.25 million would be used to cover the costs of activating National Guard members to help alleviate the officer staffing shortage that has resulted in extensive correctional officer overtime.