|
|
| Excessive Overtime Pay Prompts Concerns Over Undermanned Prison System |
| By mintpressnews.com- Frederick Reese |
| Published: 07/21/2014 |
|
Like many states during the recession that followed the banking crisis of 2007, Alabama was forced to make budget cuts for many of its departments, including its correctional system. During fiscal year 2011 to 2013, as reported by AL.com, the state slashed more than $12.6 million in salaries. Coupled with cuts in recruitment and retention programs, this has led to the state’s prison staffing levels dropping to 61 percent of their prescribed strength. Despite this, the state only managed to save slightly more than $6 million in payroll savings over the same period. It turns out that, in increasing numbers, Alabama is seeing its existing staff make up the required man-hours in overtime. In just one prison — Donaldson Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison specializing in repeat offenders — the state paid, on average, about $8,873 in overtime per employee last year, 14 percent of the total $20.8 million in overtime the Alabama Department of Corrections paid that year. Considering the state of Alabama increased its prison spending from $173.5 million to $373.5 million from 2000 to 2012, it is perhaps shocking to see that the state relies so heavily on overtime to keep its prisons staffed. For some prison staffers, the amount of overtime they receive exceeds their base pay. Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think