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Despite the state’s rising crime rate, the Department of Justice could be forced to eliminate thousands of jobs under proposed budget cuts. About 1,800 prison guards could be let go, but probation officers may suffer the biggest blow. The state employs less than 3,000 probation officers. Three hundred positions would be cut under one budget plan. Correctional Probation Officers Chapter President Richard Gordon said if the cuts happen the state wouldn’t be able to keep track of everyone on probation.

“The cases that were supervised by those officers would have to go to other officers and when you do that you’re going to impact public safety because that officer is going to have his case load bloated were he’s not going to be able to affectively supervise them,” said Gordon.

Adding to the work load for probation officers, a plan to release hundreds of prisoners if funding isn’t available to keep them behind bars.