department of corrections

Almost $40 million was spent by the Arizona Department of Corrections on overtime pay and expenses recently to compensate for hundreds of unfilled positions at 10 state-run prisons.

With 550 correctional officer positions open, the $39.1 million in overtime pay, which increased from $28.3 million last year, went to a selection of employees who picked up extra shifts last fiscal, earning time and a half pay or additional vacation days.

Public information officer for the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association, Robert Blackmer, said this situation could leave officers feeling overworked, resulting in mistakes due to fatigue and exhaustion.

In addition to taking on extra hours, officers helping with open positions were often transferred from prison to prison, filling in wherever necessary.

Anthony Spears, president of the Arizona Corrections Association, said all the shuffling was a public safety issue, as inmates could have taken advantage of uncomfortable and unfamiliar officers and staff members.

Department Of Corrections spokesman Andrew Wilder rejected Spears’ argument, and insisted that policies and regulations are consistent.

“In fact, given that rotations and transfers are common, staff oftentimes has prior experience in these other locations, having worked there previously,” Wilder said, according to The Arizona Republic.

Something Spears and Wilder can agree on is that the millions spent on overtime pay could be used elsewhere, such as in updated cost of living evaluations and raises for current officers.

Right now, the state is facing a serious issue with retention rates of correctional officers. From January to June of 2015, 600 officers quit their jobs.

In Arizona, the average salary for a correctional officer with mid-level experience or more (4 or more years) at the state level is approximately $38,000 to $41,000.

A former employee for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), which is Arizona’s medicaid system, recently pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing an estimated $1.5 million from the program.

Michael Veit, 63, faces 42 counts of criminal charges regarding money laundering, trafficking, theft and fraud.

Before getting fired, Veit had been a state employee for 35 years and an AHCCCS employee for the last 27 years. His responsibilities included overseeing administrative functions regarding contracts for items such as facility office supplies, where his annual salary was $99,892. Previously, Veit worked for the Department of Corrections.

As a result of this arrest, a criminal investigation is underway by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and Maricopa County. AHCCCS is also planning to begin an audit and review of its internal protocols that will be independently run.

Months before Veit’s arrest, a bill to create a new Office of State Inspector General died in the most recent legislative session.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey suggested creating a new office to help with state fraud, corruption and waste issues. It would work directly under the governor to investigate “the operations, management and affairs of state agencies,” including employee performance, The Arizona Republic reported.

The Office of State Inspector General would also have subpoena power and the ability to keep investigative records secret, which is one of the reasons why it wasn’t passed.

With Veit’s recent arrest, could Arizona benefit from a new, investigative state agency? Some will certainly use this case to support Ducey’s idea, while others believe that it would be unnecessary as the Attorney General already has the ability to investigate fraud.

What do you think? Would a new, investigative state office be a redundant addition or would it help keep Arizona honest?