Brown County Sheriff taking creative approach to compensate for jail staff shortage

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – A years-long wait to open a new addition to the Brown County Jail is turning out to happen at just the right time.While it isn’t due to a sudden increase in inmates, it is due to a big challenge with staffing. So far this year, nearly a third of the Brown County Jail staff has left, with many to get out of corrections altogether.Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain and his hiring staff are exhausted at hearing the word “resignation.” Last December, the jail was fully staffed, but since the start of 2021, the Sheriff has received 46 retirements or resignations. That’s more than double a normal year.“This is something we’ve never seen before,” said Sheriff Delain. “We’re very focused on hiring. Our staff is continuously looking at hiring people.”

…He says hiring won’t slow down over the holidays, and current jobs are posted on the county’s website. (CLICK HERE for a current list of job openings.) In addition, the Sheriff’s Office will be actively recruiting at a job fair at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay next month. The fair is from 4-7 p.m. at Stem Center on January 11.

Starting January 1, correctional officers will receive a county-wide 2.3% wage increase, and the Sheriff hopes any little bit will help.

“It’s starting out at roughly $44,000 a year and going up, with raises at one year, two, three, four, five year, six year in addition to the cost of living,” said Delain.

Source: Brown County Sheriff taking creative approach to compensate for jail staff shortage