Nevada Lawmakers Challenge Prison Director’s Explanation for Rising Overtime
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada lawmakers expressed skepticism Wednesday regarding the state Department of Corrections‘ assertion that increased mail scrutiny is the primaryโข driver of rising โขovertime costs, questioning whether inmate overdoses are a important, unaddressed factor. The concerns arose during โขan Interim Finance Committeeโ (IFC) hearing where officials sought additional funding for โprison operations.
The hearing โคhighlightedโ a โฃshift in the reasons cited for overtime: while staffing shortages were โpreviouslyโ the โคmain issue, Director Charles Dzurenda โขnow attributes the costs to a surge in mail requiring screening for contraband, including fentanyl. However, legislators, particularly Sen.Rochelle โNyguen, D-Las Vegas, voiced disbelief, stating, “Iโ am โขshocked that we are sittingโฃ here againโฆThe cause โof the overtime is now not staffing โissues, butโฃ is now mail.” This debate โคoccurs as the department has received “thousands” in federal pandemic relief โfunding, โincluding for aโฃ new mail โคscanner, and has seen staff vacancy rates decrease โby nearly 35% from fiscalโ year โ2023 to fiscal year 2024, โeven as overtime hours increase.
The debateโ over overtime costs is particularly sensitive givenโฃ a recent spike in inmate overdosesโค within Nevada prisons.โข Assemblymember Danieleโข Monroe-Moreno, D-North Las Vegas, revealed she texted โthe governor during theโฃ hearingโ to request inclusionโ of language addressing the overdose issueโฃ in his crime bill (SB457),โ which proposes expanding opioid use disorderโค and substance abuse treatment programs for inmates โand may be revived during aโฃ special legislative session.
Dzurenda requested nearly โ$350,000 to fund another extensive operation study. Monroe-Moreno responded sharply, โstating, “This is the last time. You all โneed to get it right. There’s not aโ lot ofโ money out there to keepโ throwing โคaway.”
The situation underscores ongoing challenges โwithin the Nevada Department of Corrections, including managing staffing levels, addressing contraband entering facilities, โand providing adequate healthcare โขto inmates. The department’s โขbudget and operational strategies are under increased scrutiny as lawmakers weigh theโ need โคfor effective corrections alongside fiscal duty.
