Nurses from Dayton Correctional Institution (DCI) gathered in protest outside the state women’s prison, highlighting a critical staffing shortage in their medical department. The protest, held on a rainy day, underscored the nurses’ frustration with what they describe as an ‘impossible situation’ due to inadequate staffing and unsafe working conditions.
Staffing Crisis at DCI
Geoff Davies, a representative from SEIU 1199, spoke on behalf of the nurses, emphasizing the dire circumstances faced by the medical staff. ‘These are nurses from the institution,’ Davies said, pointing to the group of picketers. ‘It’s difficult for employees to stand outside their employers’ building and wave signs at them and tell them they’re terrible. Something is wrong; clearly, something is wrong.’
The Dayton Daily News has reported extensively on the issues at DCI, which ended 2025 with the worst correctional officer staffing shortage in Ohio. This led to the closure of a cell block and the transfer of approximately 150 inmates to other facilities across the state.
Concerns Over Inmate Care
Recent investigations have raised concerns about the deaths of two inmates, Ashley Baldwin and Elise Snow, whose families believe inadequate medical care contributed to their passing. Davies noted that the lack of experienced staff has exacerbated the situation, with only four state nurses currently employed at DCI, compared to nine or ten in previous years.
‘In the last year-and-a-half, all the senior nurses have quit because they didn’t want to stay — it was unsafe and it was too much,’ Davies explained. ‘Now the nurses that we do have are under constant pressure, especially with the intoxications.’
Leadership and Solutions
Davies criticized both local and state prison leadership for failing to address the staffing crisis effectively. Despite efforts to relocate inmates to other facilities, the healthcare staff vacancy rate remains a concern. SEIU has called for a 25% pay increase for DCI medical staff to attract and retain talent, but this request was denied by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC).
State leaders have acknowledged the challenges and are reportedly working on solutions, but Davies insists that DCI faces unique difficulties in retaining staff. ‘It’s the worst here,’ he said, noting the high vacancy rates among nurses and security staff.
The ongoing nursing shortage nationwide compounds the issue, making it difficult for DCI to recruit new staff. ‘No nurse is going to want to come to a prison where they know there have been deaths of inmates attributed to nursing staffing,’ Davies concluded.
Original reporting: Dayton Daily News — read the source article.
