TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A state senator is raising concerns about the overtime logged by workers at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka because of staff shortages.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Thursday that employees of the juvenile prison worked more than 14,500 hours of overtime from July to November.
Republican Sen. Pete Brungardt, of Salina, says the problem is related to the state budget and the inability to hire enough staff to cover duties.
Terri Williams, the acting commissioner of the Juvenile Justice Authority, told lawmakers the agency has struggled to retain current staff and find enough qualified applicants who can pass background checks to fill 17 vacancies.
A posting on the state website for job vacancies says the starting wage for juvenile corrections officers is $13.61 an hour.
