Thursday, November 27, 2003
Some of the inmates' tasks have included rewiring courthouse offices.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County is saving money by having inmates clean the courthouse and having those with skills take on renovation projects, officials say.
Visit the county courthouse and it's likely you'll find about a half-dozen or so orange-clad prisoners from the county jail's minimum-security wing pushing a mop, moving a load of supplies or painting.
It's all part of the county's effort to try to recover a fraction of the nearly $2 million it spends annually on housing inmates, Commissioner Jim Hoppel said Monday.
No precise figures have been assembled, but Hoppel estimated the county saves thousands of dollars a year.
Duties
He noted that prisoners routinely scrub hallways and clean courthouse restrooms. It would cost several hundred dollars a month just to do that job alone, Hoppel said.
Lately, county officials are relying on inmates to do more than push a broom.
The county is using prisoners with skills such as carpentry and electrical work to make improvements in the 19th-century courthouse.
One project being handled largely by prisoners is the remodeling of two offices in the courthouse basement into new space for sheriff employees.
The prisoners have cleaned, painted, done wiring and carpentry, Sheriff Dave Smith said. "It's great," Smith said.
On the courthouse's first floor, Treasurer Linda Bolon talked in her office, while nearby, an inmate painted the molding joining the wall and ceiling.
Prisoner labor is playing a key role in remodeling the treasurer's office, Bolon said.
A contractor removed 1970s-era paneling from the walls and filled holes. But prisoners who are electricians replaced old wiring and electrical outlets.
Bolon said the outlets were so old that it's a wonder a fire hadn't occurred.
She said the inmates are good workers, and it's hard to beat the price.
Better than jail
"It's better than being locked up -- that's for sure," said the inmate painting Bolon's office.
A Columbiana man, who didn't want to give his name, said inmates like leaving the jail during the day to work. They get coffee, smoke breaks and an occasional cookie from courthouse workers.
Only nonviolent, minimum-security prisoners are allowed to leave the jail for the unguarded work details.
There have been no problems or complaints from courthouse employees or visitors, Hoppel said.