Correctional officers working 32-hour shifts more often

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island correctional officers are working 32-hour shifts more often.

WPRI-TV reports such shifts have doubled since 2016.

The contract for the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers union allows members to volunteer for ’quads,’ which are four consecutive 8-hour shifts.

Union head Richard Ferruccio says a previous hiring freeze reduced officer ranks, making the shifts necessary. He says quads are not desirable and ideally there would be more officers.

Department of Corrections spokesman J.R. Ventura says officers are not forced or encouraged to work quads, but the union contract allows them as long as posts are safely covered.

Officers earn time-and-a-half pay after 8 hours and double pay for shifts between 16 and 32 hours.

Ferruccio says quads represented a small portion of the department’s total overtime last year.