Judge Approves Raises for Prison Medical Staff
U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson on Tuesday approved salary increases for most medical staff members at California's 33 prisons, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports. Robert Sillen, the court-appointed receiver overseeing the prison health care system, requested the increase (Kravets, Contra Costa Times, 10/18).
State lawmakers have not authorized the raises, but Henderson said the state did not object.
Sillen said the raises would help retain qualified personnel and cut costs. Temporary employees were paid $90 million last year to fill vacancies, while the raises will cost an estimated $24 million in the first year.
The increases range from 5% for nurse practitioners to 64% for pharmacists. Sillen also will have the authority to double physicians' pay at his discretion (Cooper, Sacramento Bee, 10/18).