HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrections Officer Press Release - 2023/11/09
PRESS RELEASE
November 9, 2023
MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ OFFICE
411 N 5TH ST, BLDG 1, SHELTON, WA 98584
TO: KMAS, KRXY, SHELTON-MASON COUNTY JOURNAL, THE OLYMPIAN,
SHELTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, NORTH MASON CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, CITY OF SHELTON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL, THE SUN
Mason County Commissioners support a safe and strong law enforcement system to protect and
serve our community. In January 2023, the Union approved a contract with the County for a three-
year period beginning January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. The following are some key
highlights of that contract:
• $10,000 retention bonus paid July 2022.
• $2,500 retention bonus paid upon ratification of the contract.
• $10,000 signing bonus for new and lateral transfer Corrections Deputies coming to Mason
County.
• Corrections Deputy wage increases included a 12% increase at entry level and 9.7%
increase at the top step. Mason County entry level Corrections Deputies are the third
highest paid in our 7 comparable counties, just below Skagit and Cowlitz Counties. Skagit
County has a population of 130,000 and a tax base of $25.2 billion compared to Mason
County with a population of 66,000 and a tax base of $11 billion.
• Shift differential for night shift increased $0.50 an hour in 2021 to $1.00 an hour in 2023.
In October 2023, the Commissioners signed an agreement with the Nisqually Corrections Center
to house Mason County inmates. As of November 9, 24 inmates are being housed in the Mason
County Jail and 18 inmates are being housed in the Nisqually Corrections Center. The
Commissioners do not have control over the inmates booked into the County Jail; however, the
Commissioners have provided alternative capacity at the Nisqually Corrections Center so the
Sheriff’s Office can continue to receive individuals arrested. Procedures for booking are controlled
by the Sheriff's Office administration.
Washington State faces a state-wide Corrections Officer shortage. Neighboring counties are having
difficulties attracting Corrections Deputies. Pierce County is down 50 deputies, Thurston County
is down 27 deputies, and Mason County is down 6 deputies. Other Sheriff’s Offices are instituting
booking restrictions in their jails. Mason County has two new Corrections Deputies starting at the
end of November and two more in the process of testing.
If you are interested in a career as a Corrections Deputy with Mason County, please visit our
website at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/masoncountywa!