Audit criticizes overtime costs of $22 million in Nebraska prisons

LINCOLN, Nebraska (KLKN) — The Nebraska State Auditor General released a report Monday criticizing the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services’ high overtime costs.

In 2023, the department paid its employees $22 million in overtime and compensatory time off, according to auditor Mike Foley.

An audit by his office found that some correctional officers work the equivalent of two full-time jobs, meaning they work 80 hours a week, year-round.

One prison guard worked so much overtime last year that he earned more than $205,000, the audit shows, more than some doctors and dentists make in the prison system.

Foley said such overtime is “extremely costly” and endangers the safety of both staff and inmates.

The overtime is due to the prison department's long-standing struggle with staff shortages.

In response to the audit, the ministry said it was making progress in reducing overtime costs.

“Although overtime spending has decreased compared to the previous year, overtime is still necessary when the required number of team members are not available to continue to protect incarcerated inmates, team members and the public,” the NDCS said.

The review raises numerous other concerns, including the high cost of treatment.

Foley said the department could have saved $3.5 million in 2023 if it had encouraged inmates to enroll in Medicaid immediately.

The department said it solved that problem this year by making Medicaid enrollment part of the eligibility process.

The audit also accused the department of not paying inmates the money they earned on time.

Foley said more than $307,000 still needs to be credited to inmates' accounts.

The audit found that nine of the 10 inmates with the highest outstanding balances were released on parole without receiving the money they were owed.

At the same time, the auditor claims that the department did not deduct enough money from the inmates' wages to pay for their room and board.

Foley said this cost taxpayers at least $310,000.

The prison administration announced that it is switching to a new electronic system for inmate accounting.

NDCS said the system will be more efficient and reduce the chance of errors.

Foley said if all of the audit's recommendations were followed, the department could save about $3.9 million each year.