Detroit, MI - Thousands of state workers were expected to use their lunch breaks today to take part in informational protests against staffing cuts in the Department of Corrections and other state service programs, according to the union that represents them.

Participants are to pass out literature about cuts in staffing and resources during the informational pickets outside more than two dozen courthouses and state offices throughout Michigan.

Alan Kilar, UAW Local 6000 financial secretary and treasurer, said the largest event will take place at the Macomb County Circuit Court building in Mt. Clemens because the county was injured the most by the lack of staffing.

He said the dearth of probation and parole agents aided the release of Patrick Selepak, who is accused of going on a killing spree with his fiancée, Samantha Bachynski, that left three people dead in February.

Corrections officials mistakenly freed Selepak in January.

"The Selepak case is an example of what happens when you don't have enough workers to do what is required," Kilar said. "We want the public to know what is going on."

Kilar said cuts in staffing and operational resources have limited the department's ability to properly serve communities.

He argues that workers who were suspended after Selepak's release were unfairly targeted for problems that stem from a lack of funding.

However, Corrections Department spokesman Leo Lalonde said the error was caused by a communication breakdown, and was likely to occur regardless of whether there were more probation and parole agents.

Lalonde said the department will have nearly 1,100 parole and probation agents, up 56 from this year, when the 2006-07 fiscal year starts in October. He said the growth is despite $370 million in budget cuts since 2002.

Kilar said the protests are also being held to raise awareness of cuts and staffing shortages in the state's Department of Human Services. The protests are to take place simultaneously at offices in metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw, Grand Rapids and Monroe.