Corrections Commissioner Lino S. Tenorio said in an interview that they could not stop employees from resigning “in search of greener pastures.”
“We are understaffed, and the situation has affected our daily operations,” Tenorio said.
He added that the new corrections facility on Saipan is one of the best and most modern in the Pacific region but it needs adequate manpower.
“It is not that easy to pick replacements for our employees who left because first of all, it takes proper screening and we need applicants who have a good head on their shoulders,” the commissioner said.
He added that applicants need to go through two and a half months of rigorous training to meet the standards and policies of the facility.
Tenorio said Corrections is facing a lot of challenges including the budget cuts and, now, the exodus of manpower.
He said despite the worsening economy, they still manage to do their best.
“There’s a lot to expect from our staff — from handling the inmates on a daily basis, escorting them, taking care of their mental and health issues, including all kinds of inmate programs happening here and in other departments,” he said.
With the shortage of staff, their overtime work is going up and this is something they can’t help, he said.
“We have inmates to watch on a 24-hour basis. We can’t just leave them just because we’re short-handed — we can’t just call someone to come and fill in for the missing posts,” Tenorio said.
He said that they are all trying to cope with the situation.
“It’s a must for us — we have no choice so the sooner we get replacements, the better off we will be in the near future,” he added.
