County council approves putting jail inmates to work

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10341/1108950-100.stm


Tuesday, December 07, 2010

By Len Barcousky, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County Council members hope inmates at the Allegheny County Jail will help reduce the backlog of deferred maintenance at county facilities.

County Council has passed an ordinance ordering the prison warden to "finalize a policy to govern inmate employment outside the jail itself." The program would enroll inmates sentenced for non-violent offenses to clean up highways and paint buildings, among other tasks. snip

Councilmen James Ellenbogen, D-Banksville, and John DeFazio, D-Shaler, said they wanted to be sure that inmates would not be taking work away from county employees and that the proposal did not violate union contracts. snip

Inmates who qualify for the program likely would be paid a low wage. Other state and county programs pay around 25 cents to 50 cents per hour. The money earned could be used to pay fines, child support and victim compensation or buy snacks and toiletries in the jail commissary.

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I have a better idea. How about we put people to work BEFORE they end up in jail?

[Angry Dragon]

1. I have a better idea. How about we put people to work BEFORE they end up in jail?

That would not work

That would take money out of the pockets of the officials and the mighty

[RBInMaine]

9. I agree to a point. Some needed early intervention. And then some are just chronic assholes who

abuse, victimize, have no morality, and deserve to be severely punished. And the same goes for white collar greedy crooks too who should be horsewhipped.

[NNN0LHI]

12. You would like to see a horsewhip used on a jailed human being?

We got some sick people around here.

Don

[badtoworse]

2. That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang - nt

[Nikia]

3. Around here, jail inmates do this for free

Many are sentenced to community service and during jail time might be a good time to fullfill those requirements. There is also a program that reduces inmates jail sentences if they perform non required community service. It also allows inmates a chance to leave the building, which is incentive enough for many inmates.

[NNN0LHI]

4. How would you like if someone was willing to do your job for free?

Wouldn't that make you expendable? Because these are real jobs that someone should be getting paid to do so they can support their family.

Don

[Nikia]

11. Actually, I agree with you

Sometimes I think that they like to arrest a lot of people for things like drug possession in order to get free labor. I just assumed that this was already a nation wide phenomenon.

[Hannah Bell]

7. you seem to not get it

[bbgrunt]

5. the return to slavery is happening.

[RBInMaine]

6. Good. Get them off their asses and make them pay something back to society.

[Odin2005]

10. Som you support slavery then? because that is what this is.

[Ezlivin]

13. Charles Manson will be at your house today to do some clean-up work

We recommend that you move your family to another location until he's done.

[Odin2005]

8. Minorities in jail for using pot are the new slaves.