Hats off to Delaware Governor John Carney for agreeing to increase staring salaries for the state’s correctional officers by 22 percent. The decision comes in the wake of a deadly prison siege that killed a a veteran officer.
A review of the prison and uprising found that the facility was understaffed, and cited low pay as the reason behind the shortage. During the February siege, inmates took three other hostages, which were ultimately rescued.
Starting pay will rise to $40,000 a year beginning July 1, and will increase by another $3,000 next year. Officers currently earn $35,200.