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Nevada Department of Corrections reports rising overtime tied to medical transports and synthetic-drug overdoses
Summary
NDOC leadership told the Board of Examiners that overtime use has increased in recent years — driven largely by medical transports and overdoses linked to synthetic drugs — and outlined technology purchases and new staffing that officials expect will reduce overtime over months.
Nevada Department of Corrections officials told the Board of Examiners on Sept. 9 that overtime among correctional staff has risen substantially in recent years and is driven largely by medical trips to outside hospitals and a surge in overdoses attributed to synthetic drugs.
"Our overtime concern will continue," said James Renda, director of the Nevada Department of Corrections, during the meeting. He said average daily overtime coverage to meet hospital and emergency trips rose from 42 officers per day in 2023 to 68 in 2024; in pay periods 5 and 6 of the current year the average rose to 74 officers per day.
Renda described several contributing factors: a lack of on-site specialty physicians, nursing staff who are reluctant to make high-liability medical determinations, and an increase in overdoses from synthetic drugs smuggled into facilities. He said the department is procuring technology to detect synthetic drugs concealed in paper or ink and has been using additional doses of naloxone (Narcan) to respond to overdose events. "These increases in overdoses resulted in over two dozen cases where Narcan had to be extra ordered for the facility," Renda said.
Renda and other department representatives said they are pursuing multiple strategies to reduce overtime, including procuring detection technology, collaborating with Health and Human Services on substance use disorder interventions, and adding positions authorized by the legislature. Renda cautioned that legislatively approved positions will begin arriving Oct. 1 but will not immediately reduce overtime because recruiting, training and backfilling require time. He said it could take six to eight months before staffing changes noticeably reduce overtime demands.
Governor Lombardo asked for continued updates and a clearer accounting of measures that are working and which need adjustment. No formal action or funding vote on NDOC needs occurred at the Board of Examiners meeting; the discussion was presented as part of an informational quarterly overtime report required by statute.
