CT restores thousands of hours of expired comp time for parole officers

The state has restored about 5,800 hours of parole officers’ compensatory time that should have expired under an agreement reached with the workers’ union in 2013.

In a story first reported this week, The Yankee Institute’s Raising Hale website said the agreement affected about 40 parole officers.

State Auditors John C. Geragosian and Robert M. Ward noted the unexpired compensatory time last year in a review of the department’s books for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years.

According to Department of Correction spokeswoman Karen Martucci, the problem stemmed from a payroll computer coding error.

“The DOC and the union were in agreement to meet and discuss a fair resolution to the issue, which ultimately resulted in this signed contract,” Martucci added.

“We think it’s a sensible agreement that addresses the concerns we had regarding the parole officers we represent,” said Larry Dorman, spokesman for Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “And it’s a reasonable settlement that doesn’t cost the taxpayers of Connecticut one dime.”

The correction department typically assigns compensatory time rather than overtime when parole officers must work extra hours.