Prisoner work stopped

For almost 15 years, it has helped local governments, schools and agencies fix up their buildings and grounds, get needed projects done and improve the local community while also saving the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the same time, this valuable program has given state inmates a new feeling of self worth and helped guide them to a better and more productive future.

Now it is all gone.

As of Aug. 31, the state Department of Correction's Community Works Program (CWP) ceased to exist. The program, started by Gov. Jim Hunt in 1995, was a victim of the state's ongoing budget crisis.

Sam Dotson, manager of the Marion Minimum Security Unit, said he and other DOC officials were notified to stop working on Aug. 31. A total of 127 work crews throughout North Carolina were eliminated as of 5 p.m. on that day.

"We have not worked since," said Dotson.

Before that, inmates who had a good behavior record were given the privilege of being a part of the work crew. Under this program, a correctional officer supervises a crew of minimum custody inmates on short term, manual labor projects for local governments, state agencies and non-profit organizations. The local crew had 16 inmates as of Aug. 31.

"It's a steady job where they get to go out in the community and work," said Dotson. "There's so many benefits."

He added some of these men were given the opportunity to learn basic skills we take for granted.

The state inmates will still be used to pick up litter alongside the roads. However, the work crews that operated before at city, county and school facilities won't be out doing projects that save money for local taxpayers.

Every year for the past 11 years, local officials hold a luncheon at the Marion Community Building to thank the inmates and DOC officials for their efforts. At that luncheon, the inmates and DOC officials present a large check symbolizing the amount of money they have saved local taxpayers.

In 2008, state inmates saved McDowell County taxpayers an estimated $741,768 by helping out with local work projects.

"Last year, we worked 92,721 hours," said Dotson. "If you figure that up at $8 an hour, that comes to $741,768. That is what we were able to give back to the community."

In 2007, state inmates worked a total of 87,137 hours and saved local taxpayers an estimated $653,528.

In 2008, inmates in the CWP built a new block building for the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service at the county's Agricultural Barn, formed and poured concrete for a new canoe launch on the Catawba River and poured concrete floors and remodeled the inside of storage sheds for the N.C. Wildlife Commission.

The inmates have worked on the interior of the McDowell Economic Development Association's office and helped with upgrades to the county's animal shelter. They have cut the grass and trimmed the weeds around the historic McDowell House and cleaned fire trucks at local fire departments. They pitched in with the construction of the firing range and assisted with the maintenance work at the county's Park and Recreation Department. The work that they did for the county government alone in 2008 has saved McDowell taxpayers an estimated $60,000.

"Almost every project that we do that involves the expenditure of money we ask the question 'Is it something we can do that can be performed by the inmate work crews?'" said County Manager Chuck Abernathy. "It has become an integrated part of our process."

Abernathy said he's "really disappointed" that it has been eliminated.

County Commissioner Dean Buff said, "It was the worst thing that could happen."

"What they are doing is shifting the cost to the counties, and I am afraid it is going to be disastrous," said County Commissioner Michael Lavender. "We don't have the tax base that some of the larger counties like Wake and Mecklenburg have, and our local taxpayers cannot afford to pick up the slack that the prison work crews have taken up for so long. Unfortunately, I don't see this trend ending. I was grateful when the state shifted the local share of the Medicaid costs back to the state, but now they seem to be looking under every rock for things they can shift back on us. Locally, it is a no-win proposition."

In 2008, inmates also refurbished two of the radio communications facilities for the Federal Aviation Administration in McDowell. That work included removing trees, painting perimeter fences, clearing access roads and cleaning out ditches. They've also done their part with the Big Sweep cleanup at Lake James.

Last year, the state prisoners worked 5,248 hours for the McDowell County School System. Each summer, the inmates were hard at work getting the school buildings ready while the students are on vacation. They stripped and waxed floors, cut weeds on steep banks, painted both the inside and outside of school buildings and made other improvements.

"During tough economic times all public agencies must be willing to downsize and do the job with fewer resources," said Superintendent Ira Trollinger. "That will be the case for the McDowell County Schools as we lose a program that has benefited our schools for over a decade."

But there is more than just the saving of money.

"The sad part about the loss of such a program is the fact that it was a win-win proposition," said Trollinger. "The schools were helped and the prisoners got exercise and built self esteem from doing a first-rate job. Both parties benefited."

The superintendent said he is reminded of one inmate who painted wall murals at one of the local elementary schools.

"He truly transformed the media center door into an entrance to a castle," said Trollinger. "Everyone congratulated him on his talent and the beauty of his work. The school staff wants him to return and do more work in their building. It seems a shame that all of this is lost because of an economic downturn. Hopefully programs such as this can be resurrected in better times."

The program has also made a difference at McDowell Technical Community College. Prison work crews have done numerous things for the college over the years. They have moved huge amounts of furniture numerous times, painted walls and floors and done the interior demolition at the soon-to-open Ford Miller Employment and Training Complex. They have cleared brush, cut weeds, trimmed shrubs, mowed grass at various college sites and other jobs.

"I was taken aback when I heard the General Assembly was considering the elimination of the prison work crews, but you could have bowled me over with a pin when I realized they were really going to do it," said MTCC President Bryan Wilson. "It truly shocked me. The work they do in this county and across the state saves local taxpayers thousands of dollars a year."

The elimination of the program also affected two local corrections officers, who have been assigned to other duties.

"It is so amazing that they would cut this program," said Wayne Edwards, director of Basic Law Enforcement Training at MTCC. "To me it is mind-boggling. I am in awe over it. I know the corrections officers at all the prisons in this end of the state who are out working with these guys every day. I've known them for 20-plus years. These people work so very hard and DOC has some of their best people out their monitoring these crews. They get the best out of these inmates and try to help them turn around their lives. It is almost sinful to do away with this program. Really, truly, I can't believe it."

City of Marion officials are hopeful they will be able to continue the working relationship with the program in some form in the future. Mayor Everette Clark said "the Department of Correction has provided tremendous assistance to the city of Marion over the years, saving the city literally hundreds of thousands of dollars."

The city has used inmates assigned to the Public Works Department to perform work such as maintenance, grass mowing and weed trimming, janitorial services, trash pickup and other duties.

City Manager Bob Boyette said the inmates have helped the city continue to provide the same level of service, despite the elimination of several positions in the 2009-2010 budget. "The inmates come to work every day with a good attitude and ready to work and help us to continue the high level of service that our residents expect," said Public Works Director Chris Hollifield.

Freddie Killough, executive director of the Marion Business Association, said inmate work crews have, among other things, constructed the Historic Marion Tailgate Market's shelter, which saved the city $100,000. They also helped with set-up before the Mountain Glory festival and cleanup after the festival, picked up trash around Marion and assisted with other special building and grounds projects.

"The work these men perform is extremely valuable to the city and other governmental and non-profit agencies," said Killough. "The Tailgate Market shelter, Mountain Glory festival and many other events and projects would not have happened without inmate assistance."

Killough said she recently learned that the assistance of inmate work crews may still be available to the city, MBA and other local agencies in the future but it would be at a cost.

Clark said the city understands that tough budget decisions had to be made by the state.

"We appreciate everything the Department of Correction has done for the city in the past and especially for Marion being home to two state prisons," said Clark. "The city hopes to continue the excellent working relationship we have enjoyed with the DOC inmate work program in whatever form is possible in the future."

The town of Old Fort has benefited from the program. They have helped with the restoration of the Old Fort Cemetery and cut the grass at Old Fort Elementary.

"I am sure they have done a substantial amount of savings for us," said Mayor Pro Tem Carroll Miller. "It would certainly affect our ability to get things done that need to be done."

Miller said he and other local officials are sending a letter to get this program reinstated.

The inmates were scheduled to work this month on the building of the greenway park along the Catawba River and the Point Lookout Trail between Old Fort and Ridgecrest. They were going to clean out ditches and trim weeds along the parts of the Point Lookout Trail that cannot be reached by mowers. The inmates were also scheduled to work on the Round Hill extension and the riverbank at the greenway park, according to Bill Hendley of the McDowell Trails Association.

Hendley is encouraging the MTA members and the public to write or call Rep. Mitch Gillespie and Sen. Joe Sam Queen and let them know how much this program is needed. "Only a huge public outcry can get this program reinstated," he said in an email. "The program has certainly saved local governments and agencies far more than the small amount it cost."

Dotson said the CWP can be reinstated but it would take the governor and the General Assembly to approve it.

"We still have the prisoners," he said. "We still have the tools."