Closely tied to the issue of improving our jail management and administration, is the concept of utilizing the inmates sentenced to serve time in the Black Hawk County Jail. Sheriff Kubik initiated an inmate work crew several years ago, which faded out due to lack of nurturing and attention. I propose a reinvigoration and re-inventing of this program to address ways to improve county services and access. (more...)
While it is important to invest in the training and improved responsibility of the Jail staff, I think it is equally important to work with other governmental agencies and the county to ensure that we are maximizing the capabilities we possess in offering sentenced inmates the opportunity to work in several capacities to improve our communities, while diminishing the expense of being housed and serving time in the Black Hawk County Jail.
We have the ability to offer sentenced inmates the opportunity to beautify our roadways and ditches, our county parks and waterways, our community buildings and governmental grounds. I think it is important to recognize that this offering should be voluntary, however, when inmates are offered the ability to receive a day's credit for a day's work, aiding in offsetting the expense of having to pay for their room and board while serving a sentence (at the cost of $65.00 a day), I recognize that there is great potential that we will have more demand for work than work available. This is a position I would be more than willing to navigate as Sheriff.
In a time where our budgets are constantly looking for new ways to maximize the tax dollars available, it makes sense to explore this ready, willing and able workforce to assist other agencies and the county in freeing up funds for simple, time-consuming, or arduous tasks by utilizing inmate workers.
It will be my goal to immediately implement an inmate work crew to address cleaning and snow-removal duties around the jail within the first 30 days of taking office. By spring of the first year, I intend to expand this program to the jail and courthouse groundskeeping, county parks, and county roadways and ditches.