Comments on: Towns, Schools Lock In Big Savings With Inmate Labor

By: cecily

cecily — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:18:50 +0000

These inmates do not earn money. in reality they still serve the required 85 % of their sentence, and volunteer for work squads, to get out of the dsorms and cells at their respective prisons. At least they are doing something productive isntead of sitting around, learning how to be worse criminals

By: Everett

Everett — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 11:39:00 +0000

We need to save all the money we can. These prisoners volunteer for this work. It gets them out off their cell or dorm. They learn a trade or skill and job experience. There are alot of productive folks in jail that made a bad judge call in their lives. Give them as much work as they want. Sometimes its a dignity issue and gives back as part of paying the debt back to society.

Try offering these jobs to the 8.6 % unempleyed in the area. They will not take because they would actually have to quit selling drugs, shooting people and making babies to earn a living.

Tell me I’m wrong on this one.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:05:10 +0000

I don’t think we should focus on the hourly rate the state sets for inmate labor. It is a statistical number that accounts for many factors (like fully paid medical/dental, meals, laundry, etc). Theses factors aren’t considered for county or state employees.

Sometimes, the work the inmates do can help change their lives. While stationed at Eglin AFB in the late 80s, part of my job was overseeing an inmate work crew (one of many teams from the federal prison camp) . They performed any type of manual labor we needed in our compound which included eight bldgs and at least five large industrial work shops. We did a lot of electrical work, and some of the inmates became very proficient. Yes, we supervised them closely and only allowed them to do minor tasks, but they liked the work and learned from it. Several of the inmates went on to be productive citizens once they completed their sentences. I’ve kept in contact with two of them and consider them friends. In the end, I think it was a good situation for the inmates and the government.

By: Bill l

Bill l — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:45:19 +0000

Too bad the inmates can not be credited a dollar or two to pay off fines for each hr of work. Most of their work hard and hot and most do a fine job. Not many people are lining up to do this kind of labor. Nice job and hopefully you won’t be coming back when your time is completed.

By: T

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:21:52 +0000

I hear that walmart has donated flowers to the cities to schools and signs for their beautification projects that the inmates planted for our community. Ask youreslf, ‘what have i done for the community? How much money have i donated for flowers for signs or schools?’ walmart’s a team player so stop by your local city hall and donate so the inmates dont have to do it all. I heard the inmates are painting all the fire hydrates in north escambia over 300 and washing the fire trucks and cutting there grass so century finest can do what they do best save lives and look good doing it. I wont some inmates the thangs i could do.

By: B

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:12:57 +0000

Amen T

By: T

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 02:53:01 +0000

Hardworker….. County and city workers are getting payed to watch the inmate labor squads do the work that they don’t wont to do. Inmates get payed nothing for helping you get your pay check. The way i see it i much rather sit and watch them help me do my work than be the guy thats being watched 24/7, BILL the last time i checked employflorida.com there were hundreds of jobs available and not one inmate applied so what makes you think inmates can get the jobs citizens could’ve had? The state and county budges are cut so low now that we are having to do more with less so stop hating and start donating lawnmowers and weed eaters so we can keep our cities, parks, and schools looking good for your kids. Then we might let you join our team.

By: fred

fred — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:17:49 +0000

@CRS – I agree, and maybe these inmates are working toward getting themselves straightened out. I know rehabilitation is remote these days, but if these guys learn a trade, get good experience and demonstrate good work skills, maybe someone will take a chance on them after they are released.

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:13:07 +0000

An employee’s salary is only a part of the total labor costs.

By: CRS

CRS — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:51:02 +0000

Great effort!!! There are so many great incentives to come out of this program. This will give the inmates a chance to develop job skills, prepare them to adjust back to soceity when released from prison and; it’s saving tax payer dollars. Hopefully, adjoing communities and/or states, will grab a hold of this Wonderful Idea.