Nevada prison overtime costs hit $18M in quarter as staffing crisis deepens

Nevada’s prison system paid more than $18 million in overtime from July through September 2025, the highest quarterly amount in at least two years, according to data presented to state lawmakers Thursday. The payout represented a $7 million increase from the prior three months and continued a spending pattern that created a $53 million agency deficit the previous year. Correctional officers union leaders attributed the surge to severe understaffing across state facilities.

The mounting overtime costs reflect a larger crisis in Nevada’s corrections system. As prison health emergencies have increased—contributing to 76 deaths at state facilities in 2025—officers are increasingly required to accompany inmates to hospitals, driving labor expenses upward. Union representatives say the state has not adequately addressed the fundamental staffing gap that creates these pressures, and they are pointing responsibility toward political leadership, from the governor’s office to the agency director.

Nevada prisons face mounting overtime crisis amid staffing shortages

A third-party review last year found that Nevada’s prison system needs more than 700 additional positions to meet operational demands. The gap has only widened, and the consequences continue to accumulate, according to union leaders.

“Adequately staffing protects not only the public and the offender population, but also the officers who are tasked with maintaining order,” said Robert Ashcraft, a sergeant and union leader at High Desert State Prison, speaking at Thursday’s Interim Finance Committee meeting. “If we cannot ensure our own safety, we cannot effectively ensure the safety of those in our custody.”

The cascade of health emergencies at Nevada’s facilities is among the key drivers of overtime costs. In 2025, there were 76 deaths at state prisons, along with surging overdoses. Officers are increasingly required to accompany inmates to hospitals, creating substantial overtime expenses that the agency has struggled to contain.

Agency response and limited progress

The Nevada Department of Corrections has taken steps to address the problem. The agency said it is implementing quarterly sick leave reports, reassigning certain positions, and requiring that all overtime requests receive approval from a warden. In meeting documents, agency leaders acknowledged that despite these efforts, the department “continues to encounter challenges stemming from insufficient staffing … particularly in positions not authorized by the Legislature.”

Union president Paul Lunkwitz disagreed that these measures address the root problem. “There’s not enough people that are stepping up saying, ‘we need to do better here,’” Lunkwitz said. When asked about the agency director, James Dzurenda, Lunkwitz said the director’s appointed status limits his ability to be direct with lawmakers.

“He is appointed, which means he cannot point out your mistakes if he wants to keep his job. The director has tried delicately to illustrate why this problem exists and what it will take to cure it. He has been too delicate,” Lunkwitz said.

Political leaders challenged over staffing decisions

Jason Stinehour, a union sergeant at arms at High Desert State Prison, directed criticism at Governor Joe Lombardo’s office. “Does he not care about our safety now, since he’s governor?” Stinehour asked, recalling that Lombardo, as Clark County sheriff, had said overtime was necessary to keep everyone safe.

Requests for comment from the governor’s office and the NDOC director went unanswered.

Legislative decisions exacerbate workforce strain

Union leaders also highlighted specific legislative actions that have intensified staffing pressures. A 2023 law required correctional officers to provide inmates with original, physical copies of mail they receive. Union members said this has made it easier for drugs laced in ink to enter prisons. Other states require physical mail to be scanned before being sent to prisoners.

Additionally, lawmakers approved bill AB596 last year with fewer raises than what had emerged from collective bargaining negotiations. Governor Lombardo’s office said the state faced a budget crunch and could not afford to pay all elements of the collective bargaining agreements.

Health insurance premiums for officers enrolled in the state insurance system are likely to increase starting in July, union leaders said. Lunkwitz warned that the compounding pressures could drive further departures from rural facilities with smaller populations.

“Rural area prisons with limited populations will be even further decimated than they are right now,” Lunkwitz said. “I truly hope we can correct these issues before tragedy strikes.”