Pocono News Section

Prisoners Help County Save Money

Prisoners Help County Save Money - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 3:38PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 @ 03:38pm EST
JIM THORPE, CARBON COUNTY - With Spring just around the corner, it's time for counties to clean up public spaces. But that can get expensive. Officials in Carbon County found a way to save money and space in the prison.

It's Spring cleaning time at Sam Miller Field in Jim Thorpe. The cleaning crew won't be paid with money. The men in orange clothes are earning a little freedom. The crew of four is made up of work release inmates from the Carbon County Correctional Facility.

Inmate James Neff said, "Instead of sleeping all day long you get out, you get some work done. So when you get out you're used to working a little bit.

This year the inmates will also pain an area swimming pool and clean up highway areas. Those are jobs the county normally pays for. By having the inmates do it, the county will save thousands of dollars.

The program also helps Carbon County save money in another way. For every three days an inmate works, he gets one day off of his sentence. Work Release Treatment Director Frank Shubeck said, "It's a big help to the county. Right now we're suffering from over crowding so this is helping alleviate some of that burden."

The inmates in the program are not violent criminals. They all said the program is helping them get their lives back together. Barry Tindula of Palmerton said, "When I get out now I'm just staying in the house and finding a good job."

Barry has worked so many days he could get out more than a week early. He thinks he'll make it just in time to see his son turn three. "That's what I'm hoping for. I'm looking forward to that," he said.

Cleaning up Jim Thorpe helps them clean up their lives and the county budget.

Carbon County has had a work release program for several years but this year it is expanding. It's the first your the county will use inmate labor to help save money on highway and pool preparation clean up projects.