They're constantly making headlines -- prison guards who've been busted for bringing in cell phones and other contraband, but is that behavior a culture within prisons in Georgia?
Sophia Danner-Okotie from our Macon sister station, WMAZ, spoke to a correctional officer at Jackson State Prison and shows the staffing problems with the Department of Corrections.
“Some of the most dangerous men in our society walk through these halls: murderers, rapists and drug dealers,” says Jarren McClenton, a correctional officer at Jackson State.
Keeping the prisoners in check requires a dedicated fleet of guards. McClenton started working at Jackson State Prison a year and a half ago. Since then, she's developed some tough skin.
“You have to have a strong mindset to really work here,” says McClenton.
She watches these men carefully, but there are eyes on her and the other guards as well.
In February, the Georgia Department of Corrections and the FBI say they found some dishonest employees as part of operation ‘Ghost Guard.’
Atlanta's U.S Attorney calls it staggering corruption -- prison guards accused of smuggling drugs and phones, and accepting bribes.
After their two year undercover investigation, a federal grand jury indicted more than 100 Georgia correctional officers. Investigators also recovered thousands of cell phones.
Now, every prison in the state has a ‘Wall of Shame’ displaying officers who broke the rules.
“It definitely hurts because once we actually graduate, we take an oath,” says McClenton.
But the GDC says there could be many factors that create corrupt employees. One is the the salary. Corrections officers without experience start out making $24,322 per year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average correctional officer in Georgia makes $29,600 each year. WMAZ compared that salary with other states in the country and found Georgia officers’ salaries are the second lowest in the nation. Only officers in Mississippi make less.
Chief of staff Greg Dozier says they're trying to boost the starting salary.
“With the new budget that's coming out, we'll be able to elevate that to just over $27,000,” says Dozier.
He says another factor for the criminal activity among some guards could be the background checks.
To qualify, applicants can’t have any felony convictions, but many other law enforcement agencies like the Bibb County Sheriff's Office take their checks a step further and issue polygraph tests. It's a prerequisite the Georgia Department of Corrections is looking into.
“Can we exercise a stricter background? Do we go to a polygraph? Do we go to a voice stress analysis? Do we do a personality test?” says Dozier.
Before they reach that level, the Department of Corrections must focus on their biggest challenge: hiring and retaining staff. Each year, they lose 30 percent of their officers and bring on 2,000 more.
WMAZ spotted the Department of Corrections recruiting at a job fair on Robins Air Force Base.
With such a high demand for officers, recruiters wasted no time hiring people and some were offered positions right on the spot.
Despite the negative remarks she's heard, Jennifer Ostrow says she's looking forward to joining the team of correctional officers.
Back at Jackson State Prison, McClenton says they're working hard to take out the corruption.
“We're doing whatever we can to eliminate it for good,” says McClenton.
The Department of Corrections is always looking to hire. For more information on how you can become a corrections officer, you can visit their site at gdcjobs.com.
Dozens of corrections officers have been arrested in recent months for a variety of crimes. Fifteen Autry State Prison corrections officers were arrested and charged in connection with a massive corruption investigation into one Georgia state prison.
PHOTOS | 15 corrections officers charged
