The inmate work crews from the Warren County Jail help not only local governments and non-profits, they help the inmates themselves in a number of ways.

Lt. Jon Collins, a corrections officer at the jail, said, “It teaches them to become productive members of society instead of warehousing them. And, to be honest, I can’t think of a single one who has returned (to jail).”

In addition to working outside the walls of the jail, he said they receive a stipend, a daily fee that varies depending on the work being done. “They sign a contract that a minimum of 25 percent goes to fines, costs and child support (when necessary). If they choose to put more in, that’s allowed,” he said. The rest of the money goes into a commissary account, where they can purchase items while in jail.

Another bonus for the inmate is their room and board fees are waived.

Inmates Kevin Birchard and Kyle Kowalski agree that it is a good deal. “It’s more of a hands-on experience, and involves a lot of trust,” Kowalski said.

Birchard added, “It is a chance to get out and give back to the community.”

He explained that when a judge specifies work release and early re-entry in a sentence, inmates with good behavior are credited with five days of early release for every month in a sentence. If they actually participate in work release, they receive an addition credit of two and a half days for each month.

Collins said the charges filed against inmates are also taken into consideration before approval into the program.

As an example, someone sentenced to six months could receive 45 days off by participating in work release, and pay off his or her fines and costs. That helps keeps the jail from becoming a debtors’ prison. “When they leave the facility, hopefully they’ve paid off most of their debts,” he said.

There is also an instructor from Jamestown Community College who teaches inmates life skills, like resume building and interview techniques to help them get a job.

He said there is a local industry that participates with inmate work release, and has hired an inmate after he completed his sentence.

Deputy Warden Greg Deivert said, “It’s a great program. It took a few months, and we had to work out a few kinks, but it’s a great program.”

If all that weren’t enough, Collins said, “It gives them a goal, an incentive. The behavior of the inmates has improved dramatically. It gives them something to look forward to.”

And the corrections staff has received thank-you notes, not only from organizations served, but from former inmates themselves. “I’ve never heard a bad thing about it,” Deivert said.

He added, “I enjoy coming to work. These are good people who just made mistakes.”

Over the past 12 months, crews have worked 9,551 hours with a minimum wage value of $69,244.

There are currently 35 inmates in the program, which began in September 2013.