DeSantis Signs Executive Order Activating National Guard To Provide Relief At Prisons For Staff Shortages

By Amber Jo Cooper

Published Sep. 12, 2022, 10:30 a.m. ET | Updated Sep. 12, 2022

Gov. Ron DeSantis attends attends Florida Sheriffs Association Summer Conference (@GovRonDeSantis, Twitter).

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an Executive Order (22-213) activating the Florida National Guard to assist the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) in an effort to reduce overtime and provide relief for correctional officers on a temporary basis.

According to the order, National Guard members will be used for period of nine months from the signing of the order or until the Department declares that it no longer needs the Guard’s support, whichever comes first.

The scope of duties will exclude any direct supervision of inmates except where such supervision occurs as a normal part of manning control stations or when required in an emergency pertaining to safety and security.

Duties can include manning guard towers, perimeter patrols, and control stations, which will allow the correctional officers to concentrate on directly supervising and caring for inmates.

The order says the severe shortage of correctional officers has resulted in the temporary closure of 176 inmate dorms and suspension of 431 supervised work squads.

According to reports, Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon told senators in January that the agency had 5,849 unfilled correctional-officer positions, which he called a “significant vacancy rate.” He said the vacancies affected working conditions.

“Because of the void in the workforce, so, too, the conditions deteriorated and the amount of overtime to work, and the safety aspect has had a significant impact on our agency,” he said.

According to the Governor’s Office, during the 2022 Legislative Session, DeSantis approved record pay increases to recruit and retain corrections officers.

These historic pay increases and other incentives have shown early signs of success, with a net gain of nearly 640 officers since the conclusion of the 2022 session, compared to a net loss of more than 465 in the same amount of time prior.

The Governor’s Office says as these successful measures continue to bring more highly qualified officers to the FDC, this action and partnership will address officer vacancies on a temporary, short-term basis.

Click here to read the full Executive Order.