County laments decline of free labor

For 20-something years Houston County has relied on inmate labor for jobs like picking up trash, mowing, painting and flagging traffic.

But lately, those jobs either aren’t getting done or they are being done by county employees because of a lack of available inmates who can do the work.

“We have not had any inmates in three weeks,” County Engineer Mark Pool told county commissioners recently. “The litter pick-up is dead and gone if we can’t get inmates.”

And litter is an important issue for local residents. Commissioners are getting complaints about trash along county roads.

“We have become dependent on using inmates,” Commissioner Bobby Snellgrove said. “They really keep our roadways cleaned up and that’s a continuous thing. You can always tell where people got through with the chicken box. That’s where they throw it out.”

Sheriff Andy Hughes said only certain kinds of inmates are allowed to work outside the Houston County Jail. They cannot be those awaiting trial, state inmates or those convicted of certain felonies, violent crimes or domestic violence.

Most of those left eligible — those guilty of lesser crimes like bad checks or DUI — are working in the Houston County Community Corrections program.

“We have such a successful community corrections program, and that does a lot to alleviate the overcrowding in the jail,” Hughes said. “The program puts inmates to work in a regular job. They are getting our good workers — those eligible to be put out on the road working.”
There are about 160 Houston County, Henry County and city inmates in the community corrections program. All are referred by a judge, but Hughes said the county may look at limiting the number allowed to go in the program.

Those in the program wear civilian clothes and work full-time jobs, which could be available after their sentences are up. After their work day is finished, inmates return to the community corrections department to spend the night.

Inmates are paid for their work, with a portion of their earnings going to pay things like child support and restitution. So while they may not be saving the county any money, their dollars are going to the court system and to pay victims.

“Since 2003, we have collected over $1.48 million in fines, court costs and restitution for things like car wrecks and worthless checks,” Houston County Community Corrections Director Gary Knight said.

Also since 2003, community corrections inmates have logged more than 70,000 community service hours for nonprofit agencies like the Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity. Another 140 inmates are in the suspended work release program; they are allowed to return to their homes after work.

Knight said he doesn’t mind sharing inmate workers with the county but it is not realistic to expect inmates to go without sleep.
Regardless of where inmates are laboring, the important thing, Hughes said, is that they are working.

“We want these inmates out working and performing jobs that can be performed by inmates,” Hughes said. “But we don’t want to put them out there if they are at risk to public safety or a risk of escape.”