By C1 Staff
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Arizona Department of Corrections paid nearly $40 million in overtime pay and expenses to compensate for hundreds of open positions in the state’s 10 state-run prisons.
The Department spent $39.1 million, which is up from $28.3 million a year earlier, according to the Arizona Republic.
There are roughly 550 open correctional officer positions, not including sergeant, lieutenant and certain other vacancies.
Labor groups representing correctional officers say the overtime is leaving officers feeling burnt out and fatigued, which can lead to mistakes and ultimately puts prison safety at risk.
The DOC sometimes opens overtime opportunities to officers at facilities other than where they normally work, which can also be problematic.
“They don’t know the inmate population,” Anthony Spears, president of the Arizona Corrections Association, said. “They’re just there to get overtime and leave.”
This can allow inmates to take advantage of the unfamiliar officer and their lack of knowledge.
Department spokesperson Andrew Wilder said policies and procedures are kept consistent across the department, saying such concerns are unfounded.
“In fact, given that rotations and transfers are common, staff oftentimes has prior experience in these other locations, having worked there previously,” he said.
Employees are paid one and a half times their normal pay or can choose to accrue paid days off if they pick up extra shifts beyond the typical 80 hours per two-week pay period.
Spears believes that the money used as overtime payment should be used to give officers a raise in order to better recruitment and retainment.
Wilder said the department is hoping to issue such a raise in the near future.