Corrections secretary warns staffing crisis risks safety, asks legislature for $512 million and other funds

Secretary Ricky Dixon of the Florida Department of Corrections told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice on Oct. 28 that the department faces a personnel and safety crisis that requires substantial legislative funding.

Dixon said the department has seen a rapid population increase and a sharp rise in violence and staff turnover: “70% of our officers right now have less than 3 years,” he said, adding that the department has experienced a “49% increase in assaults on the men and women who do this work.” He said the system has added about 10,000 inmates since 2021 and that projections show another 4,100 inmates in the next three years.

Why it matters: Dixon framed the request as a public-safety issue. He told senators that without more funding the department risks reversing recent stabilization, and that support is needed both for operations today and for pay to reduce turnover.

Key requests and context - Total request: Dixon presented a package he described as “staggering,” listing roughly $512 million in line-item requests (the department said pay adjustments for correctional staff were not included in that figure and will be negotiated separately). The presentation listed operational, technology, contractual and capital needs across the system. - Operations and overtime: Dixon said the department is running roughly $150 million in overtime because of vacant posts and added housing, and asked for $155 million to fund operational needs tied to population growth. - Security and equipment: Requests included about $22 million for critical security equipment and $10 million to replace motor vehicles; Dixon said more than 65% of the agency’s vehicles do not meet Department of Management Services standards. - Health and contracts: The department asked for roughly $60 million to cover inmate health services (including drug-cost increases) and labeled a $45 million shortfall in health-related contract costs for the current year. - Technology and facilities: Among other items, Dixon requested $48 million for offender information system modernization, $10 million for a technology restoration plan, and $56 million for new correctional housing units (a return of funds the department said were cut last year). - Pilots and staffing: The department asked funding for pilots that expand maintenance staffing, entry/exit staffing and medical-transport staff; it also requested funds for radio/tower upgrades and ADA improvements.

What senators asked Senators pressed Dixon on whether the package would increase inmate capacity (he said capacity increases require staff pay adjustments and sufficient staffing) and whether inmates are used for construction/maintenance (Dixon said the department runs vocational and maintenance crews but vacancies have reduced instructional capacity). Senators also asked about using inmate crews for roadside maintenance; Dixon said the department performs limited work under DOT contracts but had curtailed many such efforts due to staffing shortages.

Staffing and safety Dixon said the department stabilized after the governor temporarily activated the National Guard, but warned the improvement is fragile without sustained investment. He said other states with competitive pay have been able to recruit staff more quickly, citing Alabama pay as an example for comparison.

Voices from corrections workforce James Biardi, a representative of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and a 30‑year corrections veteran, told the committee that correctional officers are “the lowest paid state law enforcement officers in the state” and urged lawmakers to prioritize a pay increase.

What’s next Dixon said the department will work with the Senate and House and the governor’s office on pay, and he asked to return to the committee for additional questioning. Senators indicated interest in follow‑up hearings and in reviewing the department’s operational data and contracts.

Ending note Dixon and committee members framed the funding requests as tied to public safety and institutional stability; several senators said they would continue questions in a future session and explore specific pilot results and contracting practices.