The Milwaukee County Jail is facing a hiring crisis that is impacting employees and public safety. But the sheriff's office is taking an innovative approach to try to solve the problem."Four months ago we were down to 123 staff members, and we're budgeted for 251," said Inspector Aaron Dobson, the Milwaukee County jail commander. Corrections Lt. Noel Ybarra told WISN 12 News that it became difficult to keep staff motivated."It got very difficult, to the point where it affected not only our officers but the people in our care."Jails across the country are facing similar hiring challenges, but Milwaukee County is trying a unique way of addressing the problem.First, county officials upped the ante, increasing pay for jail jobs from approximately $18 to $24 and, beginning in April, $26 an hour. Then officials cut the hiring red tape by holding "live" hiring events. There is no lengthy application process or waiting period, but rather in-person interviews for high school graduates age 19 and older, with applications, background checks and, if qualified, provisional job offers on the spot — often within an hour."We've had to have this new approach to bring in people and bring in people quickly," Dobson said.So far, it's been effective, adding 43 new staff members over the past four months through the rapid hiring process. But that leaves more than 80 positions yet to fill. It is a work in progress with a lot at stake, in the jail and across the community. The jail has a capacity of 960 and is currently housing 954 individuals."It can be very challenging for the entire criminal justice system if we don't have appropriate staffing," Dobson said.The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is scheduled to hold its next in-person, "live" hiring event Thursday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Zoofari Conference Center in Wauwatosa.