LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s prison system is planning to spend $1.5 million in an effort to keep quality employees from leaving.

The retention plan announced Wednesday is part of an effort to address the high turnover rate within the prisons, which has led to staffing shortages and less-experienced employees.

The money will help pay for better training and professional development opportunities, resources to cope with the stress of corrections work, better wellness amenities, and a bonus for those who have to commute to the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution an hour south of Lincoln and Omaha. At least $150,000 will be used to retain staff in the department’s Division of Health Services.

Director Scott Frakes says the plan is based on feedback from staff, policymakers and others with a stake in the corrections department.