New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang said in an editorial published by the Albany Times Union that lawmakers need to address the "persistent abuse" of the state's work comp system by employees at the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Inspector General Lucy Lang

"As overdue attention is paid to DOCCS’ systemic deficiencies, New York has an opportunity to implement real reforms that prevent further abuse of the workers’ compensation system," Lang wrote. "These must include stronger enforceable accountability measures and a fair but firm approach to balancing the rights of correction officers with the safety of all in our prisons. New Yorkers inside our prisons — whether incarcerated or employed there — deserve better."

The current labor contract for correctional workers provides up to six months of full-pay leave for an occupational injury. Unlike police labor contracts, the correctional worker agreement does not require claimants to stay home while on leave or to see approved doctors, which makes it difficult to investigate claims.

Lang said these benefits were intended to acknowledge the danger of corrections work. However, prison workers account for 15% of the state's workforce but 44% of all fraud investigations by the New York State Insurance Fund.

"Manipulative practices have been normalized to the point that 'couples comp' is a regularly used term amongst prison administrators — a reference to married couples who both work for DOCCS and who coordinate their workers’ compensation claims to facilitate travel or child care," Lang wrote. "At one facility in western New York, workers’ compensation call-outs spike on days when the Buffalo Bills play."