Overtime rising in NJ prisons to 775,000 hours, $38 million

TRENTON — Overtime costs in the state Department of Corrections have gotten the attention of state lawmakers – growing 4% from last year at a cost of $38 million and up more than 15 percent from the levels five years earlier.

Overtime hours are projected to top 775,000 this year, said acting Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks at legislative budget hearings. That equals what more than 370 corrections officers would work in a full year without overtime.

Hicks said the trouble is two-fold: Recruiting classes have been getting smaller, and more than 1 in 5 corrections officers leave for a new job within three years of being hired.

“In recent years, we’ve seen decreases in the number of recruits that are coming through our academy, which puts a strain sometimes on our filling of vacancies.”

Hicks said past academy classes had more than 200 corrections officers enrolled. The current class has 79. He also said about 21 percent of custody staff leaves the department within three years of being hired.

“I know it’s not just us. I know that State Police is also having issues with recruitment and things of that nature. But we’re really feeling it.”

The overtime averages around $4,500 for each employee in the Department of Corrections, adding about 7.5% to the department-wide average salary. However, 35 people drew down more than $40,000 in OT last year.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, said $38 million “is not insignificant.”

“We have a $38 billion budget, but $38 million in your budget if it’s not all directed to overtime, you find a better use for – or not a better use, another use,” Burzichelli said. “There’s so much need.”

“Not that we want to take money from you, but the more efficient you’re running, other things you can take on to do that I’m sure you want to do,” he said. “Every million dollars seems to add up. But 775,000 hours of overtime, as big as your operation is, just seems like a lot.”

The most overtime

Department of Corrections employees who get more than $30,000 a year in overtime alone. PLEASE NOTE that because of an editing error, an earlier version of this list had incorrect last names and job titles.

RAYMOND HALL
Title: CHIEF OPERATING ENGINEER 1
Regular: $81,511
Overtime: $78,429
TOTAL: $162,006

LIONEL HINTON
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $78,445
Overtime: $68,981
TOTAL: $147,426

STEVEN P KENNEY
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $68,820
TOTAL: $151,850

JOHNNY S ELEY
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $95,238
Overtime: $68,694
TOTAL: $163,932

ANTHONY DELVALLE
Title: CREW SUPERVISOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
Regular: $63,236
Overtime: $64,527
TOTAL: $135,770

MARK A LITTLES
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $60,245
TOTAL: $143,276

KRYSTAL D CROSS
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $56,783
TOTAL: $139,814

BRIAN MASTROLIA
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $70,178
Overtime: $53,626
TOTAL: $123,805

FRANKLYN CAMPBELL
Title: OPERATING ENGINEER 1
Regular: $58,774
Overtime: $53,473
TOTAL: $112,797

TYRONE ADAMS
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $78,445
Overtime: $52,650
TOTAL: $131,094

JOSEPH A LOPES
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $51,156
TOTAL: $134,186

ANTHONY D VARGAS
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $86,578
Overtime: $50,452
TOTAL: $137,029

GRANT A SMITH
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $88,352
Overtime: $48,440
TOTAL: $137,158

FREDRICK W CROWELL
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $88,142
Overtime: $47,429
TOTAL: $157,385

STEVEN C MUNYON
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $85,764
Overtime: $46,907
TOTAL: $139,641

BERTHA M LOWERY
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $108,466
Overtime: $46,841
TOTAL: $173,668

ALVARO CASTRO
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $102,087
Overtime: $45,508
TOTAL: $160,960

JEROME CARROLL
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $45,161
TOTAL: $128,192

JOHN D GREENFIELD
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $102,087
Overtime: $45,106
TOTAL: $167,328

JASMIN R COPELAND
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $48,560
Overtime: $44,836
TOTAL: $93,396

KESHAUN DEES
Title: OPERATING ENGINEER 1
Regular: $56,885
Overtime: $44,795
TOTAL: $102,230

JOSE L ACOSTA
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $100,898
Overtime: $44,662
TOTAL: $155,575

KAREN E GRIER
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $111,060
Overtime: $44,255
TOTAL: $164,186

DUANE T HOLLINGSHEAD
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $108,466
Overtime: $43,979
TOTAL: $166,359

AILEEN J MCCLISH
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $95,238
Overtime: $43,159
TOTAL: $138,397

SHONTAYA LOCKHART
Title: CMMCTNS OPRTR DOC
Regular: $56,147
Overtime: $43,119
TOTAL: $99,816

ERIC L LOGAN
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $41,629
TOTAL: $124,659

SHAULIC T BROWN
Title: INSTITUTIONAL TRADE INSTRUCTOR 2
Regular: $54,244
Overtime: $41,487
TOTAL: $96,219

RANDY H ANEMA
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $80,254
Overtime: $41,222
TOTAL: $121,476

SAUD A KARIM
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $61,912
Overtime: $41,047
TOTAL: $102,959

WAYNE C SAVILLE
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $86,578
Overtime: $41,023
TOTAL: $127,601

BRIAN K DARCY
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $102,087
Overtime: $40,984
TOTAL: $169,257

ISRAEL A RODRIGUEZ
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $40,820
TOTAL: $123,850

DAVID C FEGGANS
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $40,587
TOTAL: $123,617

THOMAS VELASQUEZ
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $82,072
Overtime: $40,120
TOTAL: $122,831

DOMINIQUE L MCKINNEY
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $82,711
Overtime: $39,657
TOTAL: $122,687

STEVEN M JULIAN
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $64,667
Overtime: $39,621
TOTAL: $104,288

DWAYNE E JOHNSON
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $70,769
Overtime: $38,892
TOTAL: $109,661

FELICIA L BRYANT
Title: CMMCTNS OPRTR DOC
Regular: $54,351
Overtime: $38,321
TOTAL: $93,891

VICTOR L HORNE
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $91,331
Overtime: $38,278
TOTAL: $147,290

SEAN M CROWE
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $38,156
TOTAL: $121,186

CESAR D DELACRUZ
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $82,711
Overtime: $37,964
TOTAL: $120,994

DANIEL F POWELL
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $37,820
TOTAL: $120,850

BRIAN S DUBERNAS
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $37,168
TOTAL: $120,198

MICHAEL C SHEEHAN
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $108,466
Overtime: $37,127
TOTAL: $165,529

WILSON L TOWNES
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $37,027
TOTAL: $120,057

ARTHUR R BAKARI
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $36,964
TOTAL: $119,994

JUSTIN T GRAHAM
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $102,087
Overtime: $36,870
TOTAL: $160,830

JOHN SULLIVAN
Title: OPERATING ENGINEER REPAIRER
Regular: $51,316
Overtime: $36,734
TOTAL: $89,120

ROBIN WASHINGTON
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $102,087
Overtime: $36,406
TOTAL: $163,818

CARMEN WRAY
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $70,178
Overtime: $36,394
TOTAL: $106,572

DANA M ROLLINS
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $35,982
TOTAL: $119,012

PHILIP S SMITH
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $35,940
TOTAL: $118,970

SHERRY L HENSLEY
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $35,808
TOTAL: $118,838

BEVERLY MCRAE
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $82,392
Overtime: $35,635
TOTAL: $118,026

JAMES FITZGERALD
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $95,238
Overtime: $35,576
TOTAL: $130,814

DARYL L ARRINGTON
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $105,871
Overtime: $35,481
TOTAL: $162,850

DAVID W SMITH
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $35,120
TOTAL: $118,150

PAUL J LELLI
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $35,066
TOTAL: $118,096

HECTOR M SMITH
Title: CRRECTNL POLC MJR
Regular: $108,666
Overtime: $35,055
TOTAL: $157,491

ALICE WILLIAMS
Title: SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR
Regular: $59,088
Overtime: $34,931
TOTAL: $95,755

PAUL A ROBBINS
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $75,689
Overtime: $34,702
TOTAL: $110,391

CHERYL KOSCIUK
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $94,083
Overtime: $34,688
TOTAL: $152,104

BRENDA MCKOY
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $34,629
TOTAL: $117,659

JEFFREY A BITTING
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $105,722
Overtime: $34,620
TOTAL: $156,472

JAMES HEISE
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $82,839
Overtime: $34,605
TOTAL: $117,443

DEREK N MCGEE
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $34,515
TOTAL: $117,545

SAMUEL BRYANT
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $78,445
Overtime: $34,378
TOTAL: $112,822

WILLIAM SANTIAGO
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $75,689
Overtime: $34,063
TOTAL: $109,752

GERARD A PETTI
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $111,060
Overtime: $33,970
TOTAL: $153,901

PHILIP O PRUDEN
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $33,820
TOTAL: $116,850

KATRINA M WAITH
Title: CMMCTNS OPRTR DOC
Regular: $55,392
Overtime: $33,459
TOTAL: $89,689

WILLIAM R FACCONE
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $89,739
Overtime: $33,305
TOTAL: $123,044

MATTHEW E ELWELL
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $33,269
TOTAL: $116,300

GUSTAVO E DUMAR
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $77,092
Overtime: $33,221
TOTAL: $110,313

COREY A TULBAND
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $95,709
Overtime: $33,212
TOTAL: $159,475

MICHAEL KENNEDY
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $33,090
TOTAL: $116,120

WILFREDO MUNOZ
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $32,814
TOTAL: $115,845

DARREN M TOBIN
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $67,607
Overtime: $32,755
TOTAL: $100,362

FRANCIS J CASCARELLI
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $83,416
Overtime: $32,745
TOTAL: $116,161

STEPHEN M THOMPSON
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $32,718
TOTAL: $115,749

SAMUEL LINDSEY
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $72,934
Overtime: $32,181
TOTAL: $105,114

DANA M HAWKINS
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $32,078
TOTAL: $115,108

DARRIN JOYNER
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $32,078
TOTAL: $115,108

CARYN C BRIDGEWATER
Title: SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR
Regular: $58,843
Overtime: $32,031
TOTAL: $92,654

LANCE P LOPEZ
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $31,826
TOTAL: $114,856

DAVID J SISNETSKY
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $31,395
TOTAL: $114,425

RODNEY PLEASANT
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $30,850
TOTAL: $113,880

EDLYN P JONES
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $30,786
TOTAL: $113,817

THOMAS P NYKUN
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $100,898
Overtime: $30,753
TOTAL: $138,811

MARK D PERKINS
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $102,087
Overtime: $30,658
TOTAL: $158,644

JAIME RIVERA
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $30,647
TOTAL: $113,677

MICHAEL J SCANTLING
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $89,845
Overtime: $30,522
TOTAL: $134,658

ARNALDO F BELO
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $30,461
TOTAL: $113,491

JOSEPH MUNIZ
Title: CRRECTNL POLC LIEUT
Regular: $95,343
Overtime: $30,366
TOTAL: $152,326

TOM J CAPORALE
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $83,030
Overtime: $30,353
TOTAL: $113,383

HUGO ALFARO
Title: CRRECTNL POLC SGT
Regular: $86,578
Overtime: $30,071
TOTAL: $116,649

LAQUAN BUSH
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $75,689
Overtime: $29,893
TOTAL: $105,583

PAUL ORLOV
Title: SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR
Regular: $70,178
Overtime: $29,809
TOTAL: $99,987

Hicks favorably compares the current amount of overtime to 2010, when it exceeded 1 million hours. But he said it’s higher than the 745,416 clocked last year and that overtime had been around $32 million to $33 million for a few years before climbing in 2016.

“We do see a fairly decent amount of attrition, especially when it comes to our custody officers,” Hicks said. “We’re losing about 16 officers per period, which over time adds up and can be significant.”

Assemblyman John DiMaio, R-Warren, said the state should consider a contract requiring recruits to spend a set minimum number of years on the job, to recoup the value of training costs.

“They should be making a more full commitment to you, if you’re going to put them through that, and now they can easily escape for a different type of job that may be their ultimate goal,” DiMaio said. “Maybe they should go there first.”

Hicks said the state can, and does, pursue reimbursements for training costs by new employers of correctional police officers who don’t work long for the state’s prisons.

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Michael Symons is State House bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5 and the editor of New Jersey: Decoded. Follow @NJDecoded on Twitter and Facebook. Contact him at michael.symons@townsquaremedia.com