By Corrections1 Staff
ATLANTA — Over 1,200 correctional officers did not receive the overtime pay they were due, putting the George Department of Corrections in violation of federal labor laws, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
An audit conducted by the U.S Department of Labor found that roughly 400 officers worked time without compensation at three state prisons in Georgia. Another audit revealed hundreds more throughout the state had also not received payment for hours worked.
The Georgia Department of Corrections attributed the shorting to a misunderstanding by prison officials regarding a state overtime policy.
“There was never, and will not be a time when the GDC would make any deliberate attempt to deprive [officers] of compensation for their hard work and commitment,” the department said in a statement.
Affected officers received almost $380,000 in back pay.