The state’s top corrections officer told lawmakers this week that the state is even worse off when it comes to vacancies in correctional center facilities than it was last year. Brad Douglas told senators that at the end of March, there were 887 vacancies down from 913 in February. He said the corrections department is having a hard time recruiting new staff. The Western Regional Jail in Barboursville that serves Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne counties is experiencing a 46% shortage of correctional officers. Douglas asked lawmakers for help with repairs at jails to improve working conditions.