Citing "dangerously low" staffing levels, a federal judge ruled Thursday that the county must hire private security guards to staff the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. Detention center director Earl "Dapper" Dunlap says that about 200 of the 500 positions there are currently either vacant, or filled by people on extended medical leave. "We're going to move expeditiously, but smartly," Dunlap said. "I'm a little concerned about potential backlash," as guards begin two weeks of training today.

Dunlap says that he wants to meet with the union representing guards at the center soon. Noting that most of the employees at the detention center are willing to work hard to get the job done, there are some "out-of-control" employees who "muck it up for everybody." "Somewhere along the line, they've got to have their feathers plucked, and that isn't going to bother me a bit," Dunlap told the Sun-Times. Todd Stroger, who controls hiring at the center had no comment on the ruling, but has defended the hiring process in place.

Image by Insomnia Jones, J.D., which we wrote about a while back.