Pulaski County Commissioners Voice Support for Work Release Center

The Pulaski County Commissioners are adding their support to a proposed work release center. Sheriff Jeff Richwine told the commissioners last week that Rowland Design has come up with a plan that would house 30 people. The estimated cost is $450,000, but Richwine thought it could be done for less than that.

“It’s not secured housing like a cell with bars and all that,” he explained. “The doors would be locked, and it would be monitored with cameras and that kind of thing. If they’re not working, then they’re in there, and then the idea of that is that you can put them through other classes.” The sheriff said the work release facility would consist of three 10-bunk dormitories and a locker room in the Justice Center basement, along with a small section for females.

It’s seen as a way to possibly generate revenue for Pulaski County. Inmates would pay $112 a week to take part in the work release program, which would help cover some of the costs. More importantly, it would free up space in the traditional jail cells to house out-of-county inmates, at least until other counties complete their jail expansions. Richwine said Pulaski County earned over $400,000 last year in housing fees, mainly from state and federal inmates.

“That’s just looking at the money side, and I think if you look at the human side, we’ve got to do something,” he added. “Just throwing them in jail’s not working. They just come right back. And we’re paying for them. Your paying for them when they’re in jail, so my thoughts are if we could have them pay some and maybe turn some of them around, then that’s a good thing.”

He felt that while the county’s court system is starting up some good programs to help individuals with drug problems and other issues, the county still needs to do a better job preparing inmates to transition back to regular life.

Richwine said the work release center concept has gotten the support of the county’s judges, prosecutor, probation department, and some of the county council members. He added that Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer believes that there are a few local companies interested in using work release labor. All three commissioners agreed to let the sheriff continue working on the project.